In an attempt to avert a strike which could reignite supply chain disruptions and damage the economy, the United Parcel Service has announced it will resume labor talks with the Teamsters union that represents 340,000 employees of the shipping service.

In April, the two sides began their discussions on forming a contract which would cover the shipping service’s US drivers, package handlers, and loaders. On July 31st, the existing five-year labor contract will expire.

On Saturday, in a statement, the Atlanta-based shipping company said, “With the contract expiration less than two weeks away, we need to work quickly to finalize a fair deal that provides certainty for our customers, our employees and businesses across the country.”

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters confirmed through a spokesperson that there would be further talks on Tuesday. It went on to point to a previous statement it had made which laid out its goals for a five-year agreement which will increase pay and the number of full-time jobs, and which will strengthen the protections for its workers.

UPS noted that it is confident it can “resolve the few remaining open issues” during the discussions, and added it began the negotiations, “prepared to increase the already industry-leading pay and benefits we provide our full and part-time union employees and are committed to reaching an agreement that will do just that.”

So far the two parties have made tentative agreements which would eliminate a two-tier pay structure for delivery drivers, and which would put air conditioning in its package cars. There continues to remain differences over the issues of pay increases for part-time workers who sort packages and load trucks.

On July 5th talks had broken down with both sides blaming the other.