DHL Express Workers Overwhelmingly Ratify National Contract

[Omaha Steve]

http://sev.prnewswire.com/transportation-trucking-railroad/20080502/DC2119302052008-1.html

Agreement Boosts Wages, Benefits, Is Second National Pact in a Month

WASHINGTON, May 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In votes counted late yesterday, more than 7,000 Teamsters working at DHL Express ratified their first national agreement by a solid 82 percent.

The contract is the union's second new national agreement in the past month. These are the first new national pacts negotiated by the Teamsters Union in more than 30 years. In votes counted on April 7, an overwhelming 89 percent of voting workers at UPS Freight NYSE: UPS ratified a new national contract that now covers approximately 10,700 new members.

"The vote from DHL Express members is a strong signal of support," said Jim Hoffa, Teamsters General President. "We were determined to obtain the best contract that we could for members, and I believe we have achieved that. I thank our national negotiating committee and our members on a job well done."

The contract boosts wages and benefits, improves working conditions and strengthens job security for drivers, freight handlers, warehouse workers, clerical workers and call center representatives at dozens of DHL Express locations across the U.S.

"This is a great agreement. We protected what we already had and we've gained more," said Patti McGuckin, a DHL dock agent and member of Teamsters Local 299 in Detroit. "We're getting steady wage increases, and our pension and health-and-welfare plans are protected."

"I can't help but think that this is going to be a good thing for everybody," said Sam Conover, a DHL driver and member of Teamsters Local 135 in Indianapolis. "I believe this helps the company by giving them some avenues to do some cost-saving. At the same time, our jobs have been protected and this is the strongest wage-and-benefit package I've seen as a Teamster."

FULL story at link.