DHL
June 9, 2008
Ratification Complete
We are pleased to report that all local union supplements and riders have now been ratified. The company is commencing implementation of the new agreement as of Friday, June 06, 2008. Wage increases and retro pay to April 1 will be implemented as soon as possible (we will notify you when we have the exact dates). Other details surrounding implementation will be discussed later in June and will be communicated to you as they are finalized.
May 28, 2008
announcement, that UPS will work with DHL Express U.S. toward an agreement to provide transportation in its air network for all of DHL’s express, deferred and international package volume within the United States. UPS also would provide air lift for DHL packages between the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Upon notification, the union immediately began an evaluation of the
agreement and the potential impact on Teamster members at both DHL and UPS. In particular, the union is very concerned about the impact today’s announcement will have on the nearly 600 Teamster pilots at ABX, the airline that currently handles most of DHL's air package volume.
Teamster leaders Ken Hall, Package Division Director (UPS), Bill Hamilton, Express Division Director (DHL), and David Bourne, Airline Division Director, are working closely together to protect our member’s interests at both companies.
The union will continue to update members at www.teamster.org as more information becomes available.
May 2, 2008
(Washington, D.C.)—In votes counted late yesterday, more than 7,000 Teamsters working at DHL Express ratified their first national agreement by a solid 82 percent.
The contract is the union’s second new national agreement in the past month. These are the first new national pacts negotiated by the Teamsters Union in more than 30 years. In votes counted on April 7, an overwhelming 89 percent of voting workers at UPS Freight (NYSE: UPS) ratified a new national contract that now covers approximately 10,700 new members.
“The vote from DHL Express members is a strong signal of support,” said Jim Hoffa, Teamsters General President. “We were determined to obtain the best contract that we could for members, and I believe we have achieved that. I thank our national negotiating committee and our members on a job well done.”
The contract boosts wages and benefits, improves working conditions and strengthens job security for drivers, freight handlers, warehouse workers, clerical workers and call center representatives at dozens of DHL Express locations across the U.S.
“This is a great agreement. We protected what we already had and we’ve gained more,” said Patti McGuckin, a DHL dock agent and member of Teamsters Local 299 in Detroit. “We’re getting steady wage increases, and our pension and health-and-welfare plans are protected.”
“I can’t help but think that this is going to be a good thing for everybody,” said Sam Conover, a DHL driver and member of Teamsters Local 135 in Indianapolis. “I believe this helps the company by giving them some avenues to do some cost-saving. At the same time, our jobs have been protected and this is the strongest wage-and-benefit package I’ve seen as a Teamster.”
The five-year contract expires on March 31, 2013. Among the national contract’s highlights: annual wage and benefit increases, including $8.35 over the term of the contract for pick up-and-delivery and clerical workers; all health-and-welfare and pension funds are maintained for current employees; a cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, applies to all employees and operations covered by the new agreement.
Negotiations took place in a difficult environment: Since purchasing Airborne Express in 2003, DHL has lost billions of dollars in the U.S., including $900 million last year. Under these difficult conditions, the Teamsters negotiating committee secured an agreement that significantly raises workers’ wages and provides a path for further organizing at DHL.
In total, approximately 55.4 percent of eligible workers voted on the contract.
“Creating a national contract was a complicated undertaking and our members have shown that it was worthwhile work,” said Brad Slawson, Co-chair of the Teamsters national negotiating committee. “Not only were we able to negotiate significant economic gains for members, this agreement provides job security by allowing DHL to better compete in this tough industry.”
Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.
April 22, 2008
The DHL National Master Agreement provides
for a cost-of-living allowance, or COLA, in years that inflation exceeds certain
levels. This year, the COLA provision will trigger and add $0.16 to members’
base wage rates, provided that the national agreement is ratified.
Download
the notification flier
Duplicate-Request Forms to Be Faxed on April 16
April 9, 2008
Voting materials are being mailed today to Teamsters covered under the new DHL National Master Agreement. We strongly suggest that members vote to endorse this new contract and return their ballots as soon as possible.
Due to a scheduling conflict with the independent election supervisor, we have pushed the ballot deadline back one day to 10 a.m. ET on May 1. Ballot-counting will begin on May 1 and will continue on May 2.
Forms for requesting duplicate ballots will be faxed to all DHL locals on Wednesday, April 16.
Please visit the DHL Express page for additional information about this historic new contract.
Gateway Workers Unanimously Endorse Tentative Agreement, Ballots to Be Mailed on April 9
April 8, 2008
In meetings held on April 6, approximately 70 members of Local 769 in North Miami, Florida resoundingly endorsed the new DHL National Master Agreement, their operational supplement and local rider.
“We had unanimous support for it—everyone said that they would vote for it,” said Robert Garcia, international service agent at the DHL Gateway at the Miami airport. “The key points we were concerned about, like overtime, health care coverage, pension plan and wages, were covered. We’re real happy with the way the contract turned out.”
Including Garcia, approximately 30 workers from the gateway attended a meeting that followed a meeting with the approximately 40 pickup-and-delivery members. Both groups overwhelmingly endorsed the contract. The meetings were among several where hundreds of DHL members from across the country received answers to their questions about the tentative agreement.
“We’re strongly in support of the contract,” said Jorge Alberto, a dock worker and driver at the DHL Express facility in Miami. “The job security is definitely there, our health-and-welfare benefits are maintained and the wages are competitive. Plus we have the COLA increases. I’m real happy with the contract.”
In addition to wage, benefit and job-security language, the workers applauded the streamlined grievance procedure, as well as the addition of new jobs from nearby DHL operations.
“It’s a great contract that brings together workers under a national contract—that’s going to give DHL workers a strength that they’ve never had before,” said Mike Scott, Local 769 President.
“The new grievance procedure is a big deal,” said Don Marr, Local 769 business agent. “Before, the language allowed grievances to drag on for much too long. Along with everything else, this is going to be a good contract for members. They’re excited about it.”
Ballots to Be Mailed April 9
Ballots will be mailed to members on April 9. Each member’s ballot package will contain text of the national agreement, their operational supplement and any applicable local riders or supplements.
“Sharing the details of the contract at locals across the country has been a very valuable experience,” Slawson said. “Once members have gotten the facts about this new contract, they have overwhelmingly agreed that this agreement improves their situation at DHL Express. I urge everyone to vote ‘Yes’ on their ballots.”
Unanimously endorsed 52-0 by local leaders who represent workers at DHL throughout the country on March 12, it is among the first new national master agreements to be negotiated in more than 30 years. (The new UPS Freight contract was recently ratified.)
Continue to visit www.teamster.org for information about the tentative DHL National Master Agreement, including news and full text of operational supplements, and local riders and supplements.
Members' Questions Answered in Five Meetings, Conference Call
March 25, 2008
DHL Express members reviewed the new DHL National Master Agreement this past weekend in meetings held in five states, and on a national conference call. In the meetings, members and union leaders received thorough answers to their questions about the historic new agreement.
“Members learned a lot more about their contract with [bargaining committee co-chair] Brad Slawson Sr. being there—he answered their questions about the grievance machinery, part-time language and job security,” said Lannis Shepherd, trustee and business agent of Local 745 in Dallas, Texas. “Members support this tentative agreement and their rider, which maintains the language they had under the NMFA. Our meeting went very well.”
Approximately 90 of 160 Local 745 DHL Express members attended Saturday’s meeting, as did approximately 200 DHL workers who are members of Local 100 in Cincinnati, Local 486 in Saginaw, Michigan, Local 170 in Worcester, Massachusetts and Local 856 in San Bruno, California. Last weekend, approximately 780 members met to review the contract.
“A lot of people came in a little skeptical of the contract,” said Bob Perron, a driver at DHL’s facility in Shrewsbury, Mass., and Local 170 member and shop steward. “We showed them the money that we were getting, the money that DHL has lost, plus the fact that we’re keeping the health-and-welfare and our pension, I think we turned a lot of heads. If the vote was today, I think we’d vote at 100 percent in favor of the contract.”
“Our members are pleased with the strong increases to their wages and benefits,” said Troy Stapleton, President of Local 100 in Cincinnati. “We had a very smooth meeting and, judging by it and other talks with members, they recognize that change is necessary at DHL and a majority supports the tentative agreement.”
While membership at Local 856’s meeting was small—on account of business agent Earl Averette having already visited the local’s 10 represented barns in a 300-mile radius—support is strong among the local’s membership of 70 clerical workers.
“The contract is supported by over 95 percent of our members,” Averette said. “In our supplement we maintained our benefits and, as I explained to my members, these are the highest wages we’ve negotiated at DHL and Airborne.”
Conference Call, Solid Support
On Saturday, some 120 shop stewards, business agents and other union officers participated in a conference call concerning the new DHL National Master Agreement.
On the hour-and-a-half call, Slawson reviewed the history of negotiations at DHL and answered several questions from shop stewards and union officers about the contract’s details.
“Receiving questions from stewards and officers gives us the opportunity to discuss this contract’s many strengths for members,” said Brad Slawson Sr., co-chair of the Teamsters national negotiating committee. “As we’re seeing with the call and at these latest meetings at locals, as more and more members learn the details of this tentative agreement, they see its great benefits.”
“I, business agent Cliff Patterson and our stewards were part of the conference call with Brad Slawson Sr.,” Stapleton said. “It was very informative. He did a good job of explaining where we were at and answering our questions.”
Support in Massachusetts and Michigan
“The contract gives members security for the next five years and ensures pension and health-and-welfare benefits,” said Michael P. Hogan, Local 170 Secretary-Treasurer. “Our members are prepared to ratify this agreement, which will send a strong message of unity. We must give the utmost credit to General President Hoffa and Brad Slawson Sr. for negotiating a strong contract.”
“Our members are overwhelmingly in favor of this contract,” said Ed Moran, Local 486 business agent. “Because the employees were originally under a white paper agreement, this change to a national agreement will give all DHL employees a stronger voice in the workplace.”
Unanimously endorsed 52-0 by local leaders who represent workers at DHL throughout the country on March 12, the tentative agreement is the first new national master agreement to be negotiated in more than 30 years. Members will be mailed voting ballots in the next few weeks.
Additional informational meetings are planned for DHL locals across the country. As more locals hold meetings, members will be updated regularly.
See more information about the tentative DHL National Master Agreement.
Setting the Record Straight: Facts About Part-Timers
Additional Meetings Planned for Members Across the Country
March 19, 2008
DHL Express members in Missouri, Delaware and Connecticut reviewed the new DHL National Master Agreement in meetings held this past weekend. The meetings informed members of the highlights of this strong, historic agreement.
“Once everybody got the facts and could see everything in print, they were ready to go with the contract,” said Joe Smith, Secretary-Treasurer and business agent of Local 326 in New Castle, Delaware. “Members could see it’s a damn good contract. It protects the benefits, seniority and working conditions that have been in place under the NMFA.”
“I think it’s a good contract,” said John Mastella, a 29-year driver based at DHL’s New Castle, Delaware facility and 15-year shop steward. “I tell coworkers it’s a strong contract, and I would say 80 to 85 percent of our barn endorses it. This contract has real strong language and it hits on all points—job protection, wages and benefits. We didn’t take a step backward on anything.”
Approximately 75 members of Local 326 and 95 members of Local 600 in St. Louis attended meetings to review the tentative agreement. Eleven members of Local 493 Uncasville, Connecticut attended a meeting with some 350 members of Local 25 in Boston. Approximately 250 members of Local 107 in Philadelphia also met this past weekend and strongly supported the new tentative agreement.
“Prior to the meeting we were getting feedback that there was going to be a lot of concerns about the use of part-timers,” said Scott Gilchrist, business agent at Local 600. “But after the workers had the rules explained, they were a lot more comfortable with the language that was used to protect them. I told our membership that we support the contract and I think the majority of our members are going to vote for this contract.”
“Receiving support from these first five DHL locals shows that this is a strong contract for members,” said Brad Slawson Sr., chair of the Teamsters national negotiating committee. “As more and more members learn the details of this tentative agreement, they see its great benefits.”
Unanimously endorsed 52-0 by local leaders who represent workers at DHL throughout the country on March 12, the tentative agreement is the first new national master agreement to be negotiated in more than 30 years. Members will be mailed voting ballots in the next few weeks.
Additional informational meetings are planned for DHL locals across the country. As more locals hold meetings, members will be updated regularly.
See more information about the tentative DHL National Master Agreement.
Additional Meetings Planned for DHL Members Across the U.S.
March 17, 2008
In meetings held this past weekend, more than 600 DHL workers in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania voted overwhelmingly to support the new DHL National Master Agreement. During these first meetings scheduled to inform members of the highlights of the historic agreement, not one member in attendance voted to oppose the tentative agreement.
"Our principal officer told our membership how we felt," said John Murphy, chairman of the New England DHL negotiating committee, and Local 25 Vice-President and business agent. "This is the best contract we could have negotiated with DHL. I think it's a damn good contract for our members. When we got a motion to accept and adopt the contract there was no one against it."
Approximately 352 members of Local 25 and 250 members of Local 107 in Philadelphia attended meetings to learn about the tentative agreement.
"Coming into the meeting members had questions and some concerns. But when everything was explained and they got the real story, there was 100 percent support for the contract," said Bill Hamilton, President of Local 107 and Joint Council 53. "I think this is the best contract I've been associated with. Considering the wages, benefits and no-layoff guarantees, we've given the company the opportunity to grow and protected and strengthened our members" position."
"Without a doubt the overwhelming support from two of the largest DHL locals is strong sign," said Brad Slawson Sr., chair of the Teamsters national negotiating committee. "This shows that when members learn the details of this contract, they see its benefits. As additional meetings are held, we are confident that other members will also support this tentative agreement."
Unanimously endorsed 52-0 by local leaders who represent workers at DHL throughout the country on March 12, the tentative agreement is the first new national master agreement to be negotiated in more than 30 years. Members will be mailed voting ballots in the next few weeks.
Additional informational meetings are planned for DHL locals across the country. As more locals hold meetings, members will be updated regularly.
See more information about the tentative DHL National Master Agreement.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE DHL AGREEMENT
March 12, 2008
Leaders of DHL local unions from across the country voted 52-0 to recommend ratification of the tentative DHL National Master Agreement on Wednesday, March 12, paving the way for members to vote on the contract. More
National Agreement and Supplements:
Other supplements and riders will be posted as they are finalized.
February 27, 2008
(Washington, D.C.) – The Teamsters national negotiating committee has reached a tentative agreement on the historic DHL National Master Agreement.
"This agreement is truly historic. It is the first new national master agreement negotiated in the transportation sector in decades. Negotiations in recent months have been as complex as any I've been involved with but I am confident that we negotiated the best possible agreement for our members," said Brad Slawson Sr., chair of the Teamsters national negotiating committee.
"The DHL national negotiating committee leaders from Teamster locals across the country stepped up and took ownership of the process and negotiated a national agreement that best serves our members at DHL Express. I'm proud to have had the opportunity to work with leaders from throughout the U.S. to pull together the newest Teamster national master agreement."
In accordance with Teamster procedure, the first step in ratifying the tentative agreement is to present the pact at the national two-man meeting, which will be scheduled soon. The “two-person meeting” involves two representatives from each local with DHL members, who review the new agreement and vote to endorse the tentative agreement.
“Our local leaders will thoroughly review this agreement to ensure that our members’ interests are protected,” said Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa. “The agreement must be endorsed by the union representatives before it is presented to the membership.”
Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.
Tentative Agreement at DHL Express Is Imminent
February 26, 2008
The Teamsters national negotiating committee has had productive negotiations with DHL Express, working long hours over this past weekend and into this week. A tentative agreement on the historic first DHL National Master Agreement is imminent, a union leader said.
“Our negotiations in recent months have moved along well and we are in the final stages of negotiating economic issues,” said Brad Slawson Sr., chair of the Teamsters national negotiating committee. “I am confident that a tentative agreement is imminent.”
Additional information about the agreement will arrive later in the day.
Local union leaders and members are urged to visit the Teamsters web site, www.teamster.org, for more information about these historic negotiations.
Committee Focused on Reaching the Strongest Contract Ever for DHL Members
February 22, 2008
On February 18, the Teamsters national negotiating committee and DHL began nine intense days of negotiations for the DHL National Master Agreement.
Significant progress was made on the local riders over the first couple days and some progress has been made on the outstanding national non-economic issues. The Teamsters national negotiating committee presented an economic package to the company on February 20.
“We’re making steady progress ensuring that members’ needs are well represented at the negotiating table but we’ll wait to see their counter-proposal on wages and benefits to see how far apart we really are,” said Brad Slawson Sr., chair of the Teamsters national negotiating committee. “Our goal is very simple: to reach the strongest possible contract for Teamsters. I’m confident that we will be successful.”
Once a tentative agreement is negotiated by the committee and DHL, it will be voted on by all Teamsters covered by the contract.
Negotiating Amid Rumors
Speculation and rumors concerning the future of DHL Express in the U.S. continue to circulate through the media. The Teamsters national negotiating committee is aware of the rumors but until concrete evidence of some change in direction is confirmed, the union will stay focused on the task at hand: securing a strong contract for Teamster members.
“There are many pressing issues for the company as well as our members,” Slawson said. “As a result, these are complex, difficult negotiations but we will get them done. I am confident that members will be protected by the strongest contract in the history of DHL.”
The Teamster bargaining committee will continue to update members as they work through this historic process.
Download the latest DHL national contract negotiations newsletter.
Regional Supplements Being Completed, Economic Negotiations To Begin in February
January 22, 2008
The Teamsters national negotiating committee and DHL have resumed negotiations this month for the DHL National Master Agreement. Discussions have focused on wrapping up the various regional supplements and riders as well as the open national issues. These discussions will continue until negotiations for the major economic issues—wages, health insurance and pensions for each of the four major national operating supplements—begin in mid-February.
“Since framing the national agreement in October, our focus has been for local unions to negotiate their riders so we can begin the economics at a national level,” said Brad Slawson Sr., chair of the Teamsters national committee. “Combining these many types of different agreements and operations into a single master agreement isn’t easy but we’re making steady progress. We anticipate all of the regional and local union riders will be completed by the time we begin negotiations over economics in mid-February.”
The new DHL National Master Agreement will cover DHL workers at all local unions covered under the National Master Freight Agreement (NMFA) and workers at a number of local unions that previously negotiated stand-alone “white paper” agreements.
The January negotiations took place amid speculation created by two large brokerage houses, Morgan Stanley and Bear Stearns, recommending that Deutsche Post World Net—DHL’s parent company—scale back its U.S.-based operations due to large financial losses. When pressed on the future of the U.S. operations by the Teamsters national negotiating committee, DHL management commented that there is no plan to withdraw from the U.S. but there is immense pressure on them to turn around operations in this country.
“It’s difficult enough putting together a national agreement of this size. When you add the operational issues facing DHL since it purchased Airborne it adds an entire new dimension,” Slawson said. “But make no mistake: we are absolutely committed to making sure members’ interests are represented.”
Agreements on Non-Economic Provisions
Last year, the Teamsters national negotiating committee and DHL agreed to non-economic provisions of the DHL National Master Agreement and the national operating supplements: pick-up and delivery, clerical, gateway, and hub operations.
The tentative national language for the pick-up-and-delivery and clerical agreements largely reflects the relevant Articles (1-39) of the National Master Freight Agreement. The existing contracts covering gateways and hubs were used as the template for those operational supplements.
The Teamster bargaining committee will update members as they work through this historic process. Please continue to look for bargaining updates and information about voting on this new, historic agreement at www.teamster.org.
Tentative Agreement Reached on National Non-Economic Language; Regional Bargaining Begins in November
November 1, 2007
After nearly a month of negotiations, the Teamsters national negotiating committee secured tentative agreements with DHL representatives on October 28. The agreements address various non-economic provisions for the DHL National Master Agreement and operational supplements.
“Hammering out non-economic language is the first step of negotiating a contract,” said Brad Slawson, chair of the Teamsters national negotiating committee. “We believe that we’ve got language that enhances job security. While we made progress there is still a long way to go.”
During the often-contentious negotiations, the committee reached tentative agreement with DHL on the non-economic national portion of the agreement as well as the non-economic language for each of the four major national operating supplements: pick-up and delivery, clerical, gateway, and hub operations.
The tentative national language for the pick-up-and-delivery and clerical agreements largely reflect the relevant Articles (1-39) of the National Master Freight Agreement. The existing contracts covering gateways and hubs were used as the template for those operational supplements.
Economic Negotiations to Follow Agreements on Regional Supplements
The next step in negotiations concerns regional supplements and riders, which govern much of the day-to-day operations. Local union leaders and DHL will begin negotiating these supplements in November.
If negotiations are concluded by the end of November, the national committee anticipates that it and DHL representatives will convene again in December to discuss economic portions—wages, health insurance and pensions—of the DHL National Master Agreement.
The new DHL National Master Agreement will cover all local unions covered under the National Master Freight Agreement (NMFA) and a number of locals that previously negotiated stand-alone “white paper” agreements.
The Teamster bargaining committee will update members as they work through this historic process. Please continue to look for bargaining updates at www.teamster.org.
National Negotiations Underway
October 15, 2007
Your Teamsters national negotiating committee met last week with representatives of DHL to begin the historic task of negotiating a new DHL National Master Agreement. Appointed by General President Jim Hoffa, the national committee comprises representatives of Teamsters locals from around the country that represent members working in every aspect of DHL Express’s business.
While we cannot yet reveal information about specific proposals and discussions, your committee is encouraged by the tone of these talks and DHL’s willingness to negotiate within the framework provided by Articles 1-39 of the National Master Freight Agreement (NMFA).
Using current contract provisions should allow us to quickly move through the process of negotiating the “common clauses” and begin work on the operational supplements—pick-up and delivery, clerical, gateway and hub—as well as allowing each local’s representatives to begin bargaining local riders.
The new DHL National Master Agreement will cover all local unions covered under the NMFA and a number of locals that previously negotiated stand-alone “white paper” agreements.
Your national bargaining committee is scheduled to negotiate through the end of October, including weekends, and will continue to update you as we work through this historic process.