Teamsters Win Most Votes in DHL Gateway Election

In a vote for union representation at DHL's Wilmington, Ohio Gateway, workers cast their ballots in favor of the Teamsters Union. While the Teamsters received more votes than the American Postal Workers Union (APWU) or the choice for no union representation, the Teamsters did not reach the NLRB-required 50 percent plus 1 threshold of voters to be declared a winner. A runoff election will be held to decide whether the workers will choose either the Teamsters or no union representation at a yet-to-be-determined date.

"The Gateway workers in Wilmington have shown that they want Teamster representation and we are confident that they will choose the Teamsters Union in the upcoming election," said Bill Hamilton, Director of the Teamsters Express Division. "In these somewhat uncertain times at DHL, it's more important than ever that these workers have a strong union like the Teamsters to work tirelessly to represent their best interests and to secure their future."

DHL Gateway workers in Wilmington have faced deep concerns over the recent announcement that DHL is 'acquiring the services' of UPS and working toward an agreement to provide transportation in its air network system for package volume in the United States. This also applies to air lift for DHL packages between the U.S., Canada and Mexico. While the final deal between DHL and UPS is not yet complete, the Teamsters Union is using its bargaining, contractual and political clout to work to ensure that Teamsters in the DHL System are treated fairly. More than 200,000 Teamster members work at UPS and more than 12,000 Teamster members work within the DHL System.

"We need the power of Teamster influence, Teamster experience and Teamster members behind us," said Malien Grossman, a gateway service agent in Wilmington.

"The announcement from DHL has made me realize the importance of the strength of my Teamsters Union, politically and at the bargaining table. We would be honored to have the workers in Wilmington standing there with us as Teamsters," said Debra Contello, a Teamster member working at the DHL Gateway at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York.

Contello and her fellow Teamsters from the JFK, Los Angeles and Miami DHL Gateways recently came to Wilmington to support the workers' vote for Teamster representation.

In May, more than 7,000 Teamsters working at DHL Express ratified their first national agreement by a solid 82 percent. The agreement boosts wages and benefits, improves working conditions and strengthens job security for members at dozens of DHL Express locations across the United States. This vote comes on the heels of several Teamster victories at DHL. In March, 19 sort maintenance mechanics and tech reps in Wilmington and 369 workers at the DHL sort facility in Niles, Michigan voted to join the Teamsters.