FILE - A worker loads packages at the United Parcel Service facility on Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2011 in Williston, Vt. Layoffs announced in February 2024 in North Portland are part of a national cost-cutting effort by the company.
Toby Talbot / AP
United Parcel Service, or UPS, is cutting more than 300 jobs at its North Portland sorting facility when it ends operations at the property in April, Oregon officials announced Wednesday.
Overall, the Atlanta-based company will shed 12,000 jobs this year in an effort to shore up finances amid a drop in shipping demand. United Parcel Service CEO Carol Tomé told investors last month the job cuts are expected to save the firm $1 billion.
UPS plans to cut 312 part-time employees and 19 full-time staff from its Portland Day Sort facility, according to its notice sent to the state.
“This action is expected to be permanent due to the lack of available work at this location moving forward,” writes Lori Cruz, human resources business partner director for UPS, in the notice. “Due to the reduction in volume, as of April 19, 2024, this sort will be closed for operation.”
Related: UPS is cutting 12,000 jobs just months after reaching union deal
The cuts come after the company and the union representing workers agreed to a new contract last summer that increased pay for UPS employees, including those working part-time. The deal helped avert a strike that could have interrupted millions of deliveries.
Including UPS, at least five companies operating in Oregon have reported a total of more than 500 layoffs to the state so far this year, including the shipping and warehousing company, Penske Logistics. Preliminary state data show the shipping sector in Oregon lost around 1,000 jobs last year.
Overall, the state’s unemployment rate remains low at 3.7% in December, matching the national average.