United Parcel Service (UPS) has confirmed a partial closure of its Oklahoma City facility at 901 S. Portland Ave., which will result in layoffs affecting 286 workers. In a statement released to the public, UPS acknowledged the "changing business realities" necessitating this move, stating, "As a part of our Network of the Future initiative, we’re modernizing our Oklahoma City UPS facility." The information, revealed by The Oklahoman, adds to growing concerns among the workforce about job security in an evolving economic climate.
According to UPS, the layoffs will commence on January 15, 2025. The workers were informed through a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) notice, as mandated by federal law. This notice requires companies to properly notify both employees and the relevant state department well in advance. In this case, the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission was duly alerted, which was confirmed by a report from OKC FOX. However, the disruption is poised to inevitably affect more than the initial 286 hub workers, with an additional 18 staff in pre-loading, clerk, and revenue recovery roles also facing layoffs.
The changes in operation have been attributed to a broader strategy of modernizing, which UPS insists will not impact customer service in Oklahoma City. "Our employees are extremely important to us, and we are working to place as many employees as possible in other positions," read a UPS statement, as obtained by OKC FOX. The company has expressed its commitment to assisting employees through this transition.
The notification to the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission (OESC), as outlined in the WARN Act notice, sets the total number of layoffs at 304. This encompasses a broader spectrum of positions than originally reported, including 286 hub employees, 15 pre-loaders, one package clerk, and two revenue recovery staff. This detail was further reported by OKC FOX, which obtained a copy of the WARN Act notice. The OESC has communicated that they are actively collaborating with UPS on "next steps to help those who have been impacted."
