United Parcel Services Of America Inc

John W. Alden, the No. 2 executive at closely held United Parcel Service of America Inc., plans to retire early next year, shortly after the company's planned $3-billion initial public offering. Alden, 57, is vice chairman, in charge of strategic planning, sales, marketing, logistics and customer service. He joined Atlanta-based UPS in 1965. UPS won't immediately replace Alden, though it promoted Michael L. Eskew, senior vice president of engineering, to executive vice president.

John W. Alden, the No. 2 executive at closely held United Parcel Service of America Inc., plans to retire early next year, shortly after the company's planned $3-billion initial public offering. Alden, 57, is vice chairman, in charge of strategic planning, sales, marketing, logistics and customer service. He joined Atlanta-based UPS in 1965. UPS won't immediately replace Alden, though it promoted Michael L. Eskew, senior vice president of engineering, to executive vice president.

The Teamsters Union and United Parcel Services of America Inc. agreed to extend a deadline for voting on a new contract, delaying the threat of a nationwide strike. The union initially told the company, headquartered in Greenwich, Conn., it would strike if a new three-year contract wasn't approved by next Tuesday, when the old pact expires, a UPS spokesman said. But he said the union needed more time to get all its members to vote on the proposal.