In meetings held on April 6, approximately 70 members of Local 769 in North Miami, Florida resoundingly endorsed the new DHL National Master Agreement, their operational supplement and local rider.

“We had unanimous support for it—everyone said that they would vote for it,” said Robert Garcia, international service agent at the DHL Gateway at the Miami airport. “The key points we were concerned about, like overtime, health care coverage, pension plan and wages, were covered. We’re real happy with the way the contract turned out.”

Including Garcia, approximately 30 workers from the gateway attended a meeting that followed a meeting with the approximately 40 pickup-and-delivery members. Both groups overwhelmingly endorsed the contract. The meetings were among several where hundreds of DHL members from across the country received answers to their questions about the tentative agreement.

“We’re strongly in support of the contract,” said Jorge Alberto, a dock worker and driver at the DHL Express facility in Miami. “The job security is definitely there, our health-and-welfare benefits are maintained and the wages are competitive. Plus we have the COLA increases. I’m real happy with the contract.”

In addition to wage, benefit and job-security language, the workers applauded the streamlined grievance procedure, as well as the addition of new jobs from nearby DHL operations.

“It’s a great contract that brings together workers under a national contract—that’s going to give DHL workers a strength that they’ve never had before,” said Mike Scott, Local 769 President.

“The new grievance procedure is a big deal,” said Don Marr, Local 769 business agent. “Before, the language allowed grievances to drag on for much too long. Along with everything else, this is going to be a good contract for members. They’re excited about it.”

 Ballots to Be Mailed April 9

Ballots will be mailed to members on April 9. Each member’s ballot package will contain text of the national agreement, their operational supplement and any applicable local riders or supplements.

“Sharing the details of the contract at locals across the country has been a very valuable experience,” Slawson said. “Once members have gotten the facts about this new contract, they have overwhelmingly agreed that this agreement improves their situation at DHL Express. I urge everyone to vote ‘Yes’ on their ballots.”

Unanimously endorsed 52-0 by local leaders who represent workers at DHL throughout the country on March 12, it is among the first new national master agreements to be negotiated in more than 30 years. (The new UPS Freight contract was recently ratified.)

Continue to visit www.teamster.org for information about the tentative DHL National Master Agreement, including news and full text of operational supplements, and local riders and supplements.