Workers at Four Carriers for DHL Choose the Teamsters

All Allentown Couriers and Related Workers Join 12,000 Teamsters in DHL System


On July 19, workers at two independent cartage carriers (ICCs), delivering for DHL, E.D. Express and Supreme Delivery Service, voted for Teamster representation. These newest victories mean that all workers at the four ICCs in Allentown, Pennsylvania are now Teamsters.

“I voted to join the Teamsters because they have lived up to everything they’ve promised,” said Ryan Barrall, a lead courier at E.D. Express. “We’re going after better wages and structured hours. These things are a must.”

“Protecting workers’ jobs and ensuring solid wages and benefits are standards that we want to bring to employees at ICCs in Allentown,” said Jim Hoffa, Teamsters General President. “Our new members join the thousands of other employees of ICCs delivering for DHL that we represent. The Teamsters are the union in the DHL system.”

Last week, workers at two other Allentown ICCs joined the Teamsters. Employees at Jennings and Associates overwhelmingly voted to become Teamsters, and following a dramatic march on the boss, Northeastern Express voluntarily recognized the workers’ wishes to join the labor organization. ICCs sort and deliver DHL packages.

“Employees at Allentown independent cartage carriers for DHL know what they want—they want Teamster representation,” said Dennis Hower, Vice President of Local 773 in Allentown. “We have a reputation for getting things done and improving the work life of thousands of parcel workers at DHL and UPS. We are eager to bring Teamster benefits to ICC employees here in Allentown.”

More than 4,500 workers at DHL in the Northeast 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 and Cleveland. In the package-sort-and-delivery industry, more than 200,000 workers at UPS are Teamster members.

“Workers at cartage carriers, sort centers, gateways and other operation centers throughout DHL are joining the Teamsters,” said Jeff Farmer, Teamsters Director of Organizing. “It makes perfect sense. As more workers in the system become Teamsters, their power becomes even greater.”