POTSDAM — Potsdam Teamster workers will stage a practice protest in front of the UPS facility on Hatch Road on Wednesday, July 12 at 8 a.m.

Practice protests are being staged at UPS facilities nationwide as the Teamsters negotiate a new contract with UPS management, organizers said in a press release.

The present five-year contract ends in just three weeks, at the end of day, July 31. Negotiations have been ongoing between Teamster leadership and UPS management since April, organizers said..

On July 5, UPS negotiators left a meeting with Teamster negotiators; since then no talks have resumed.

Teamster President Sean O'Brien has repeatedly stated that if there is not a rank and file approved contract by midnight, a strike will be called, the press release said.

"Practice strikes" have been organized to both let UPS management know the Teamsters are serious about the strike option, and to train workers to abide by the laws that govern a striking body, said organizers.

According to local Teamster organizers, the Potsdam facility delivers as many as 14,000 packages daily.