Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 25, 1995 TAG: 9503270042
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: A-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The jobs will be eliminated over the next 18 months, senior UPS executives told The Wall Street Journal, which reported the plan Friday. It was not clear if the job cuts would be made through attrition, buyouts or layoffs.
In response, UPS said that it was sending communications to its managers Friday stating that the company believes some reductions in management staff will be necessary. "As part of UPS efforts to be more customer responsive, measures are under review to improve efficiencies and quality and reduce overlapping operations and costs," the company said.
John Flick, a spokesman at UPS headquarters in Atlanta, said it can't be determined yet if the management reductions will affect the UPS shipping and sorting center on Thirlane Road in Roanoke. UPS has not adopted a specific plan yet on how the reductions will be accomplished, he said.
"It is our intent," the company said, "that retirements, attrition, retraining and transfers into growth areas will minimize any necessary reductions."
One executive said the company was doing everything to avoid layoffs, ``but we can't say it definitely won't happen.''
The UPS worldwide work force of 300,000 includes about 35,000 managers.
To compensate for the job cuts, the UPS executives said more responsibility will be given to drivers and sorters. The company also will rely on new technology such as automated route planning.
The package-delivery giant said it was reviewing its management to find inefficiencies or overlapping operations. The reorganization is part of the company's larger effort to keep pace with rising costs and increasing competition.
by CNB