Additional Meetings Planned for Members Across the Country
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.
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