April 11, 2005

(Washington, D.C.) – The International Brotherhood of Teamsters’ nationwide campaign to organize workers at DHL independent cartage contractors continues to gain momentum with victories in Ohio, Texas and elsewhere.

“Nationwide, more than 1,340 workers at the DHL independent cartage contractors have chosen to have a more secure future with the Teamsters,” said Jim Hoffa, Teamsters General President. “Thousands of more workers will get the chance in the coming months.”

The coordinated, regional campaigns to organize workers at DHL independent cartage contractors in Ohio and Texas were resounding successes. More than 300 workers at eight locations are now Teamsters in the Columbus and Toledo areas in Ohio, and in the Dallas area.

Rather than organizing the locations separately, organizers coordinated the efforts so that the committees, made up of workers, were involved at all the sites. The election filings were also coordinated, and the same strategy will proceed as contract negotiations take place.

“We deserve fair wages like our coworkers receive at union centers,” said Elango Glenn, a five-year driver with Allen Freight in Columbus, one of the organized locations. “People at the unionized centers make a lot more money, and they receive paid holidays and sick days. Now we can negotiate for better pay.”

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