DHL Teamsters Ready to Strike if No Fair Contract by March 31

Significant Labor Action Looms as DHL Workers Push for New Contract

Press Contact: Maura Drumm Phone: (215) 510-3735 Email: MDrumm@teamster.org

(WASHINGTON) – A decisive 96 percent of Teamsters at DHL Express have voted in favor of authorizing a strike if an equitable contract is not presented by the end of March. The union has emphasized that any supplementary agreements must be finalized before the national contract is agreed upon, with no intentions of extending the current contract.

Bill Hamilton, Director of the Teamsters Express Division, cautioned, “DHL should be on notice that they need to start moving quickly to complete the supplements and present an acceptable contract offer. Our members will not work a day past the expiration of our current agreement. If DHL fails to deliver, Teamsters at the company are prepared to take action.”

The existing DHL Teamsters National Master Agreement encompasses numerous employees across 26 local unions in 16 states. With the contract's expiration looming, the union is pressing for the swift completion of all supplementary agreements and insists on a national contract that enhances standards, bolsters working conditions, and safeguards benefits.

Pat Hughes, a driver for DHL Express and member of Teamsters Local 2785 in San Francisco, expressed, “We take tremendous pride in the work we do every day and want to avoid a strike. But this overwhelming vote shows we are united and ready to do whatever it takes to secure a fair agreement.”

In 2023, more than 1,100 Teamsters at the DHL global hub in Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport initiated a strike due to unfair labor practices. Pickets spread nationwide, impacting DHL’s operations during the intense holiday period, eventually leading to resolving disputes and securing an agreeable contract.

Rick Marquis, a driver at DHL Express and part of Teamsters Local 25 in Boston, remarked, “This wouldn’t be the first fight Teamsters have waged to win the contract they deserve. Just like our brothers and sisters at CVG proved in 2023, we are ready to stand up and win. DHL must give us a fair contract before March 31, or we will be on the picket line.”

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, established in 1903, represents 1.3 million workers in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. More information is available at Teamster.org. Follow them on X @Teamsters and on Facebook at Facebook.com/teamsters.