Workers employed by DHL and its independent contractors are joining the Teamsters union in Minnesota and across the country. The struggle hasn't been easy, however, as employees at one Twin Cities company have been forced into an unfair labor practice strike.
The campaigns are part of a nationwide Teamsters effort to unionize DHL and its independent contractors.
The 23 workers at W & A Cargo Enterprises, Inc., which handles deliveries for DHL at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, have been on strike because management has retaliated against employees who support the union. On Jan. 18, the workers voted to be represented by Teamsters Local 120. Since then, the company has terminated nearly half the workforce, cut pay, lengthened hours and imported replacement drivers from Texas, the union said.
The union has filed unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board and sought the support of elected officials and religious leaders who have joined workers on the picketline. In addition, the strike has targeted local and national DHL customers through informational leafleting, phone banking, ambulatory picketing and mass e-mailing.
The W & A workers say they are fed up with lousy treatment by the company.
"I wanted to join the Teamsters because having your pay halved, your hours doubled, your benefits eliminated and your sick and vacation time stolen is damn hard to take," said Bill Hunt, an 11-year driver.
"I've got a 22-month-old baby that's got to be fed. He also has asthma-related medical problems that land him in the hospital a lot. Thanks to W & A, my wife and I are reduced to begging for state health insurance for him, even though both of us work."
Driver Graydon Dasheur described working 70 hours a week and earning less than $500. "I finally realized that I wasn't making what I deserved when my supervisor said, 'Oh, my dinner tabs are worth more than your entire checks,'" he recalled. "I've never been on strike before and it isn't fun, but we're giving W & A what it deserves."
Several drivers noted that W & A management ignored their concerns about safety problems with the company's fleet of delivery vans. "We went Teamster so that employees would finally have a say," said Brian Sullivan, a nine-year driver.
Strikers are receiving assistance from the Teamsters food shelf. Meanwhile, the organizing campaign continues.
On March 3, workers at RA Ventures, a DHL independent contractor in St. Cloud, overwhelmingly voted to be represented by Local 120. There are 18 workers in the bargaining unit.
"The workers are concerned about fair wages and benefits, including good health care coverage," said Erik Skoog, Local 120's Organizing Director.
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W & A workers are seeking fair treatment and a chance to make life better for themselves and their families. Photo courtesy of Teamsters Joint Council 32 |
Information for this report supplied by Rhys Ledger, Teamsters Joint Council 32 Director of Organizing, and the Teamsters' website, www.teamsters.org
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Workers employed by DHL and its independent contractors are joining the Teamsters union in Minnesota and across the country. The struggle hasn’t been easy, however, as employees at one Twin Cities company have been forced into an unfair labor practice strike.
The campaigns are part of a nationwide Teamsters effort to unionize DHL and its independent contractors.
The 23 workers at W & A Cargo Enterprises, Inc., which handles deliveries for DHL at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, have been on strike because management has retaliated against employees who support the union. On Jan. 18, the workers voted to be represented by Teamsters Local 120. Since then, the company has terminated nearly half the workforce, cut pay, lengthened hours and imported replacement drivers from Texas, the union said.
The union has filed unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board and sought the support of elected officials and religious leaders who have joined workers on the picketline. In addition, the strike has targeted local and national DHL customers through informational leafleting, phone banking, ambulatory picketing and mass e-mailing.
The W & A workers say they are fed up with lousy treatment by the company.
“I wanted to join the Teamsters because having your pay halved, your hours doubled, your benefits eliminated and your sick and vacation time stolen is damn hard to take,” said Bill Hunt, an 11-year driver.
“I’ve got a 22-month-old baby that’s got to be fed. He also has asthma-related medical problems that land him in the hospital a lot. Thanks to W & A, my wife and I are reduced to begging for state health insurance for him, even though both of us work.”
Driver Graydon Dasheur described working 70 hours a week and earning less than $500. “I finally realized that I wasn’t making what I deserved when my supervisor said, ‘Oh, my dinner tabs are worth more than your entire checks,'” he recalled. “I’ve never been on strike before and it isn’t fun, but we’re giving W & A what it deserves.”
Several drivers noted that W & A management ignored their concerns about safety problems with the company’s fleet of delivery vans. “We went Teamster so that employees would finally have a say,” said Brian Sullivan, a nine-year driver.
Strikers are receiving assistance from the Teamsters food shelf. Meanwhile, the organizing campaign continues.
On March 3, workers at RA Ventures, a DHL independent contractor in St. Cloud, overwhelmingly voted to be represented by Local 120. There are 18 workers in the bargaining unit.
“The workers are concerned about fair wages and benefits, including good health care coverage,” said Erik Skoog, Local 120’s Organizing Director.
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W & A workers are seeking fair treatment and a chance to make life better for themselves and their families. Photo courtesy of Teamsters Joint Council 32 |
Information for this report supplied by Rhys Ledger, Teamsters Joint Council 32 Director of Organizing, and the Teamsters’ website, www.teamsters.org