DHL/Airborne Express agreement covers 6,000 workers

An historic agreement between package-delivery company DHL and Teamster local unions provides job security and pay protections for more than 6,000 union members who previously worked for Airborne Express.

“This historic agreement protects the security of our hardworking members and the security of their families,” said Jim Hoffa, Teamsters General President. “This agreement will lead to more solid family-wage jobs in the future.”

Last year, DHL bought Airborne Express for more than USD1 billion. The agreement reached earlier this week states that DHL fully anticipates growth, which will mean more Teamster jobs as a result of the merger.

The agreement also provides a no-layoff protection. Also, regular full- time employees are guaranteed at least 40 hours of work each week.

“The agreement also protects premium weekend and holiday pay,” added Tyson Johnson, Director of the Teamsters Freight Division. The 6,000 DHL workers are covered under the Teamsters National Master Freight Agreement. More than 3,000 other Teamsters at DHL are covered under separate contracts.

“During this time of economic uncertainty, these workers will know they have a written agreement that protects their jobs and their futures,” Johnson said.

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents more than 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States and Canada.