Teamsters: The Union for DHL Workers

More Than 12,000 Workers in DHL System Are Teamsters


(Allentown, Pennsylvania) – Workers throughout the DHL system are building their union with the Teamsters Union. The union is fighting to ensure that all workers at DHL have the opportunity to join the most powerful union in North America. This week, workers at two independent cartage contractors in Allentown, Pennsylvania, voted for Teamster representation.

“I voted for the Teamsters because they are the biggest and best union,” said Felix Zamora, a worker who is a new Teamster delivering DHL packages in Allentown. “I know that Teamsters already represent many DHL workers, plus a whole lot more at UPS. They are the experts when it comes to representing parcel and small package employees.”

“Industry density matters when it comes to winning strong contracts that protect workers’ jobs and ensure solid wages and benefits,” said Jim Hoffa, Teamsters General President. “The Teamsters are the union in the DHL system.”

DHL workers at two independent cartage contractors (ICC), Northeastern Express and Jennings and Associates, both in Allentown, are now new members of the Teamsters Union. Workers at Jennings voted today, by a three to one margin, to join the Teamsters. Both are independent cartage carriers that deliver for DHL. On July 19, two Teamster elections will be held for employees of two more DHL ICCs, also in Allentown.

“ICC employees delivering for DHL in Allentown overwhelming voted for Teamster representation and we will stand with them to work on improving their rights and benefits in the workplace,” said Dennis Hower, Vice President of Local 773 in Allentown. “These employees have worked hard to keep DHL a successful company and they deserve excellent representation on the job. They made the right choice with the Teamsters.”

More than 4,500 workers at DHL in the New England corridor have successfully won union representation as Teamsters—from Baltimore to Boston. And, more than 12,000 workers in the DHL system are already Teamster members, including workers at DHL facilities in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Cleveland and elsewhere. In the package-sort-and-delivery industry, more than 200,000 workers at UPS are Teamster members.

“We are expanding workers’ power and Teamster power in the global supply chain,” said Jeff Farmer, Teamsters Director of Organizing. “As more workers in the DHL system become Teamsters, their power becomes greater.”

“I tell every worker I meet: ‘I went through the organizing process, and you can build your union, and you have the full support of the Teamsters behind you,’” said Don Schmidt, a sort worker at the DHL gateway at JFK Airport in New York City.