NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - The Teamsters union said Monday its members had overwhelmingly voted to authorize a strike, if necessary, in its negotiations with United Parcel Service.

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters said that at meetings over the weekend, 93 percent of its members approved the use of a strike should it become necessary.

A 15-day walkout from UPS (UPS: down $0.56 to $58.99, Research, Estimates) by the trucking union in 1997 led to a $10 million third-quarter loss for the package delivery company.

"It is time that we break the log jam at the negotiating table," James P. Hoffa, Teamsters president, said in a statement. "Our members deserve a strong contract that reflects the success of UPS over the past five years."

A spokesman for UPS stressed that the vote does not mean negotiations are going badly.

"This is literally just a normal part of the negotiating process," said UPS spokesman Norman Black. "It does not mean there is going to be a strike, nor does it reflect what's going on at the bargaining table."

"We are absolutely confident that we are going to have a contract that rewards our employees without disrupting service," Black said.

The Teamsters represents about 230,000 workers at UPS. Their current five-year contract runs out on July 31.