April 3, 2008

In votes counted on March 8, 369 workers at the DHL sort facility in Niles, Michigan voted resoundingly to join Local 299 in Detroit. The victory follows an organizing win by 19 workers at the DHL gateway in Wilmington, Ohio on March 6.

“We worked hard for this,” said Genee Neal, a package handler. “As Teamsters, we will have a voice to protect our interests in the workplace.”

The workers, who won their election 258-46, seek stronger wages, job security and on-the-job respect. (Read a letter from DHL worker Bruce Hull concerning the campaign.)

“This is a great victory for these DHL workers and I am proud to welcome them into our union,” said Kevin Moore, Local 299 President. “We have a strong history of representing DHL workers and we will work together to enhance the livelihoods of these workers and their families.”

The DHL sort facility in Niles is the company’s third-largest in the U.S.

The 390 new members in Niles and Wilmington join the more than 12,000 Teamsters who work throughout the DHL system. Within the next few weeks, thousands of Teamsters who work at DHL Express will begin reviewing the tentative agreement for the historic, new national agreement at their company.