UPS will lay off 304 employees at its Oklahoma City distribution center in mid-January as part of a facility modernization effort, the company announced in a required notice to state officials.
The company informed the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission (OESC) through a WARN Act notice last week that the layoffs will take effect on January 15, 2025. The affected employees include 286 HUB workers, 15 pre-loaders, one package clerk, and two revenue recovery employees at the facility located at 901 S. Portland Ave.
A WARN Act notice is a federally mandated notification that requires employers to provide local government entities with at least 60 days’ advance notice before mass layoffs.
UPS declined to answer specific questions regarding the layoffs, including whether automation is replacing the affected positions. Instead, a spokesperson issued the following statement:
As a part of our Network of the Future initiative, we’re modernizing our Oklahoma City UPS facility at 901 S Portland Ave and will partially close the facility on January 15, 2025. Our employees are extremely important to us, and we are working to place as many employees as possible in other positions. We remain committed to working with them throughout this transition and providing support. This temporary, partial closure won’t impact customer service, and we have plans in place to continue servicing the Oklahoma City community.
UPS Spokesperson
The timing of the layoffs, coinciding with the facility’s temporary closure, has raised concerns about job displacement due to automation. OESC spokesperson David Crow noted that automation is an increasing factor in job losses.
“There are certain occupations and types of work that are just fading away,” Crow told News 4 in Oklahoma City on Wednesday.. “We have programs designed to retrain workers for in-demand skills.”
Crow encouraged affected employees to visit one of OESC’s 27 workforce centers to explore new employment opportunities.
“When there are layoffs, especially around the holidays, we look for opportunities to play matchmaker and connect people with employers,” he said.
Many of the affected UPS employees are members of Teamsters Local 886. News 4 reached out to the local union chapter for comment but did not receive a response.