What Does Article 22 of the UPS Teamsters Contract Cover?

By TeamstersGPT · Published June 12, 2026

Article 22 of the UPS National Master Agreement sets pay rates, progression, overtime, and job protections for part-time and combo employees. Learn what it means for your paycheck.

Article 22 is one of the most important — and most frequently referenced — provisions in the UPS Teamsters contract. It establishes the foundational wage and working-condition rules for part-time employees and combination (22.3) full-time jobs. Whether you sort packages on the preload, work inside a hub, or hold a combo job that spans two shifts, Article 22 almost certainly affects your pay, your progression, and your rights on the floor.

Because Article 22 of the National Master Agreement (NMA) serves as the baseline, it is constantly cross-referenced by local Supplements, Riders, and Addenda. Understanding what the national language says — and where your supplement may give you more — is essential to protecting yourself on the job.

The Role of Article 22 in the National Master Agreement

The 2023–2028 National Master UPS Agreement covers all employees in the bargaining unit across all operations — package centers, air hubs, gateways, trailer repair shops, and any new operations within each Local's jurisdiction [11]. All of those employees are considered part of one single bargaining unit, even though the contract is printed in separate national and supplemental volumes [7].

Article 22 sits within the national master language, which means its protections apply everywhere. Crucially, any lesser condition in a local Supplement, Rider, or Addendum is automatically superseded by the stronger national language — but a Supplement can always give you more than the national floor [8].

Part-Time Wages, Starts Rates, and Progression

The heart of Article 22 for most members is the part-time wage scale. The NMA sets starting rates and a progression schedule that all part-time employees hired into inside jobs must follow. Local supplements and riders regularly point directly back to Article 22, Section 5 of the NMA as the governing authority for part-time pay.

For example:

  • The Local 177 Driver Supplement wage schedule explicitly directs all part-time employee categories — regardless of hire date — to "Refer to Article 22 Section 5 of the National Master Agreement" for their applicable rates [5].
  • The Local 804 Supplement similarly provides that part-time employees "shall receive the guarantee provided in Article 22, Section 5 in the National Master Agreement" [3].
  • The Local 901 Puerto Rico Supplement states that part-time employees "will follow National Master wage and progression rate, plus any Bonus offered in National Master Agreement" [2].

This cross-referencing pattern is universal: Article 22 Section 5 is the national part-time pay standard that every local builds upon.

General Wage Increases Under the 2023–2028 Contract

All part-time employees who had already attained seniority as of August 1, 2023, are entitled to the following general wage increases — and in no case shall they receive less than the new start rate in effect for each contract year [5]:

Contract Year General Wage Increase
2023 $2.75/hr
2024 $0.75/hr
2025 $0.75/hr
2026 $1.00/hr
2027 $2.25/hr

These same increases mirror the full-time schedule set out in Article 41, Section 1 of the NMA [1], ensuring that inside employees at every level see real raises across the life of the contract. The total contract package was described by the union as including more improvements than any prior UPS agreement [12].

Full-Time Combination (22.3) Jobs

One of the most significant — and hard-fought — provisions within the Article 22 framework is the creation and protection of Article 22.3 full-time combination jobs. These are inside positions that combine two part-time shifts (for example, preload + local sort) into a single full-time bid job with full-time pay and benefits.

Local supplements contain specific commitments about growing the number of these jobs:

  • Local 804 secured a Letter of Agreement requiring UPS to create 100 additional 22.3 jobs before August 1, 2014, bringing the total to 560, and a follow-on agreement for 110 more before August 1, 2022 — at a minimum of 22 per year [6].
  • These jobs, once created, "shall thereafter be governed in all respects by the rules of Article 22.3 and 41.3 of the NMA" [6].
  • Under the Western Region Supplement, if a full-time employee works a combination job and spends more than one (1) hour in a higher-paying classification, that employee receives the higher rate for the entire shift [10].

Generally speaking, 22.3 jobs have been a union priority for decades because they convert what would otherwise be two low-wage part-time jobs into a single job with family-sustaining pay and health coverage.

Part-Time Overtime Protections

Article 22 also interacts directly with overtime rules for part-time employees. Under the Local 804 Supplement, any seniority part-time employee who works beyond five (5) hours is entitled to one-and-a-half (1½) times their regular hourly rate for all hours beyond five — unless the employee voluntarily elects to work a second shift with a planned break between it and the first [3].

Additionally, a part-time employee who works on their scheduled day off and is also available for work on each of their five regularly scheduled days (absent legitimate good cause) shall receive overtime pay at time-and-a-half for all hours on that day off. If the employee is absent without good cause on any of their five scheduled days, the day-off overtime premium is forfeited [3].

These are important protections that go beyond what many non-union warehouse workers receive. Always check your local supplement — overtime thresholds and triggers can vary.

Part-Time Work Restrictions (Local 804)

The Local 804 Supplement contains a notable set of Part-Time Work Restrictions under its Article 22 language. Part-time employees in Local 804's jurisdiction are not permitted to perform:

  • Delivery driving
  • Tractor trailer driving
  • Pickup driving
  • Shifting in large hubs
  • Portering, cashiering, return clerk work, or car washing

Furthermore, the number of full-time jobs (190) in the sorting and loading function of the night package operation cannot be reduced due to the use of part-time employees. If a full-time employee in those classifications dies, quits, retires, is discharged, or transfers to a driving job, that slot must be refilled with another full-time employee before the number of part-time employees in the jurisdiction is increased [3]. Local 804 explicitly contends that these conditions supersede Article 22, Sections 2 and 3 of the National Master Agreement [3].

How Supplements Interact With Article 22

The relationship between the National Master and local Supplements is a key concept every steward and member should understand. The NMA is the floor — the minimum. Supplements can build above that floor, but never below it [8]. The Western Region Supplement states this directly in its Preamble: "Any lesser conditions contained in any Rider or Addendum shall be superseded by the conditions contained in this Agreement. However, except where specifically stated otherwise in this Agreement, nothing in this Agreement shall deprive any employee of any superior benefit contained in their Rider or Addendum" [9].

This means:

  • Your supplement may give you more than Article 22's national minimums.
  • Your supplement cannot take away what Article 22 guarantees.
  • When a local supplement is silent on a topic, the Article 22 national language controls.

Article 22 is also frequently referenced in the context of air operations. For example, if an employee is awarded an air walker job, they continue to receive their inside rate in accordance with Article 22 [1]. Air hub and gateway jobs are paid according to Article 41, Section 3 unless a specific agreement under Article 40, Section 3 provides otherwise [1].

Clerks and Other Classifications

Article 22's wage provisions extend beyond sorters and preloaders. Under the Local 901 Puerto Rico Supplement, clerks "will follow the wage and progression rates described in Article 22 of the National Master Agreement, plus increases as provided for in either Article 22 or Article 41 of the National Master Agreement, as applicable, plus additional bonus, if any" [2]. This illustrates how broadly Article 22 reaches across inside job classifications.

Peak Season and Helper Rates

During peak season, Article 22 wage rates also set the floor for helpers. The Local 177 Driver Supplement specifies that peak season helpers hired between November 1 and January 10 shall receive the "all other" rate per hour for all hours worked, as outlined in Article 22, Section 5 of the National Master Agreement [4]. New full-time combination helpers start at 50% of the prevailing package driver rate, receive a 10% increase one year after attaining seniority, and an additional 5% two years from employment. The inside portion of their work "will be paid pursuant to Article 22 of the National Master Agreement" [4].

What to Do Next

If you believe your pay, progression, or job classification isn't matching what Article 22 — or your local supplement — requires, act quickly. Talk to your shop steward right away, as grievance timelines are strict. Pull up your specific Supplement, Rider, or Addendum alongside the NMA to compare. If you're unsure which supplement applies to you, ask TeamstersGPT with your local's supplement selected for a more tailored answer. Know your rights — Article 22 is one of the most powerful tools in your contract.

Sources

  1. National Master UPS Agreement 2023-2028 — Art. 22 · § 3 · p. 186–187
    oyee is award- ed an air walker job they shall continue to receive their inside rate in accordance with Article 22. Full-time air hub and gateway jobs - 177 - Article 40 shall be paid in accordance with Article 41, Section 3 unless there is an existing agreement under Article…
  2. Local 901 Puerto Rico Supplemental Agreement 2023-2028 — Art. 22 · § 3 · p. 39–40
    bles 40 ft. or more Driver rate + .75 per hour 2. Driver wage increases, and additional bonus if any, will follow the National Master wage provisions. 40 3. Driver wage progression for employees hired after July 31, 2002, will follow the National Master Wage progressions. C.…
  3. Local 804 Supplemental Agreement 2023-2028 — Art. 22 · § 5 · p. 24–25
    ir guarantee. Any seniority part-time employee who works beyond the fifth (5th) hour shall be paid one and one-half (1 1/2) times their regular hourly - 232 - rate for those hours worked in excess of five (5) hours. However, when an employee elects to accept an assignment to a…
  4. Local 177 Driver Supplemental Agreement 2023-2028 — Art. 39 · § 5 · p. 6–7
    tional Master Agreement. There will be a 15% cap applied for helpers in each building. This cap will not be applied between November 1 and January 10. - 7 - ARTICLE 39 Peak season helpers hired between November 1 and January 10 shall receive the all other rate per hour for all…
  5. Local 177 Driver Supplemental Agreement 2023-2028 — Art. 39 · § 5 · p. 8–10
    a spare driver. Should the doubles return to the vacated job within 30 days the driver who vacated the job will have the right to return to that job. - 9 - ARTICLE 39 WAGE SCHEDULE 8/1/23 8/1/24 8/1/25 8/1/26 8/1/27 Classification Package Driver 44.42 45.17 45.92 46.92 49.17…
  6. Local 804 Supplemental Agreement 2023-2028 — Art. 22.3 · p. 85–86
    iver” or “central driver” to “tractor trailer driver” wher - ever feeder driver or central driver is stated in the Local 804/UPS Supplement Agreement. - 293 - LETTER OF AGREEMENT Teamsters Local 804 and United Parcel Service, Inc. (“UPS”) agree the following will become…
  7. National Master UPS Agreement 2023-2028 — Art. 2 · § 1 · p. 13–14
    control or approve a decision by such entity. The Employer will be financially responsible for all losses resulting from a violation of this Section. - 4 - Article 2 ARTICLE 2. SCOPE OF THE AGREEMENT Section 1. Single Bargaining Unit All employees covered by this Master…
  8. National Master UPS Agreement 2023-2028 — Art. 2 · § 1 · p. 14–15
    Negotiating Committee for review and approval. Failure to be approved by the Committee shall render said Supplement, Rider or Addendum null and void. - 5 - Article 2 Any lesser conditions contained in any Supplement, Rider or Ad- dendum shall be superseded by the conditions…
  9. Western Region of Teamsters UPS Supplemental Agreement 2023-2028 — Art. Title · p. 3–5
    ..249 30 HEALTH AND WELFARE AND/OR PENSION ......249 31 DURATION OF AGREEMENT ................................258 TABLE OF CONTENTS Article Title Page PREAMBLE All language contained in this Supplement shall apply to all signa- tory Local Unions except where explicitly stated…
  10. Western Region of Teamsters UPS Supplemental Agreement 2023-2028 — Art. 12 · p. 20–21
    ed to the National Grievance Committee for final disposition. Rate agreed upon or awarded shall be effective as of the date equipment is put into use. - 229 - ARTICLE 12—COMBINATION JOBS (FULL-TIME REGULAR EMPLOYEES) It is anticipated that the changing nature of the Employer’s…
  11. [PDF] NATIONAL MASTER UNITED PARCEL SERVICE AGREEMENT
    Operations Covered The execution of this Agreement on the part of the Employer shall cover all employees of the Employer in the bargaining unit at any existing centers, new centers, new trailer repair shops, new air hubs and gateway operations, new buildings, and any other new opera-- 1 -- 2 -Article 1 tions of the Employer within the jurisdiction of the Local Union signatory to this Agreement as determined or may be determined by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, with regard to wages,
  12. OUT NOW: FULL UPS NATIONAL MASTER AGREEMENT A full ...
    The contract, reached with UPS on Tuesday, includes 60 new and revised article improvements — more achievements for members than any prior

Frequently asked

Does Article 22 apply to full-time package car drivers, or just inside employees?
Article 22 primarily governs part-time and combination (22.3) inside employees. Full-time package car drivers, feeders, and other full-time classifications are mainly covered by Article 41. However, Article 22 wage rates can carry over — for example, an employee awarded an air walker job continues to receive their inside rate in accordance with Article 22 [#1], and the inside portion of combo helper jobs is also paid under Article 22 [#4].
How much will part-time employees earn in raises over the 2023–2028 contract?
Part-time employees who had attained seniority by August 1, 2023, receive general wage increases of $2.75 in 2023, $0.75 in 2024, $0.75 in 2025, $1.00 in 2026, and $2.25 in 2027 — totaling $7.50 over the contract — and will never earn less than the applicable new start rate for each year [#5].
What is an Article 22.3 job and how is it different from a regular part-time job?
A 22.3 job is a full-time combination inside job created by pairing two part-time shifts (e.g., preload plus local sort). It comes with full-time pay, benefits, and seniority rights — unlike part-time jobs. Local 804, for example, negotiated agreements requiring UPS to create hundreds of additional 22.3 jobs, all governed by Article 22.3 and 41.3 of the NMA [#6].
When does a part-time employee get overtime under the contract?
Under the Local 804 Supplement, any seniority part-time employee who works more than five (5) hours in a shift earns time-and-a-half for every hour beyond five, unless they voluntarily accepted a second shift with a planned break [#3]. Overtime rules can vary by supplement, so always check your local agreement.
Can my local supplement take away rights I have under Article 22 of the National Master?
No. Any lesser condition in a Supplement, Rider, or Addendum is automatically superseded by the National Master Agreement [#8]. Your supplement can give you more than Article 22's national minimums, but it cannot give you less. This principle is also restated in the Western Region Supplement's Preamble [#9].

Ask TeamstersGPT with your supplement selected to get the cited article and section for your local.