DHL Teamsters are organizing a contract campaign as they prepare for negotiations covering nearly 3,000 Teamsters at the company’s largest air hub, at Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky airport (CVG).

The contract campaign is a coordinated effort between Cincinnati Local 100, Kentucky Local 89, and the International Union.

Local 100 represents ramp and tug Teamsters who load and unload air packages. Local 89 represents Teamsters who work inside the hub sorting and loading packages. 

“We’re building a team across our two locals united to fight for the contract improvements we deserve,” said Jenny Poynter, a ramp and tug Teamster and Local 100 Trustee.

Key issues include wage improvements, quality healthcare with no premium, improved retirement benefits, and a fair attendance policy. 

Another major issue is scheduling. DHL forces employees to stay past their scheduled shift or to come in on their days off, sometimes for only an hour or two – a practice called “mandating.” Often mandates are a blanket order, and premium pay is not guaranteed.

Teamsters want protections against this practice, including minimum guaranteed pay when they are called in. 

How We Got Here

Ramp and tug workers first voted to join Local 100 in April of 2023. 

When DHL stonewalled in contract negotiations, they went on strike over peak season in December and extended picket lines to 15 locations, disrupting the company’s operations nationwide and winning their first contract.

“We were the first Teamsters to get enhanced strike benefits, and it made a huge difference,” said Poynter. “Between the stations shut down nationwide, and members joining our picket line after realizing they could still pay their bills while on strike, DHL had to come back to the table.” 

“Going on strike for the first time was scary,” said Poynter. “Thankfully we weren’t alone. With the support of our brothers and sisters we quickly got our first contract.”

The strike victory secured members’ precedent-setting safety language, wage increases, free healthcare, paid break time, job security, and a path to organize 1,200 hub workers into the Teamsters as part of their first contract. 

Ripple Effects

The strike victory sparked more organizing, and not just at DHL. 

First, the contract required DHL to recognize the Teamsters if a majority of sort workers in the hub signed union cards – a process called card check recognition. Under the card check recognition agreement, the workers could bypass the election process. 

1,200 workers in the hub used this right to join Teamsters Local 89. 

“I immediately got involved and started to organize,” said Tiani Stevenson, Local 89 hub steward. “A lot of my co-workers were afraid because rules were changing inside the hub before we were under the contract.” 

Teamster organizers didn’t let fear shut them down. “Everything we’ve been doing for the past year and a half has been to prepare for this contract – we’ve never stopped organizing,” said Stevenson.

Amazon workers also got into the action. Shortly after the strike at DHL-CVG, Amazon workers at KCVG who had been organizing with Amazon Labor Union reached out to bring their organizing drive into the Teamsters. KCVG is the largest air hub in Amazon’s network. 

There’s Power in a Union

“Three years ago, sort workers weren’t in the union yet and management could undercut the ramp and tug strike 
by pulling from the sort. This time, it’s all of us together.

“We can shut the whole hub down. We’ll be ready.”

     - Tiani Stevenson
        CVG Hub Steward, Local 89, Louisville

Uniting to Win

The DHL contract at CVG doesn’t expire until March of 2027, but workers are organizing to build power now, drawing on proven strategies from winning Teamster contract campaigns, engaging members early, and taking escalating steps toward action as contract expiration gets closer.  

Kentucky is a Right to Work state. Members are reaching out to their co-workers who have not joined the Teamsters. Stewards and activists circulated surveys in June and July. 

“We’ve been building trust for the past three years, and now we’re getting ready for contract time,” said Tim Owen, ramp and tug steward. “It’s given us an opportunity to start asking members questions, to find out where people are at. We’ve gotten new memberships during the survey process.”

“We’ve been letting everyone know that joining the union will give all of us a stronger voice at the table,” said Stevenson. 

Local 100 and Local 89 are holding proposal meetings and bargaining committee elections, followed by joint proposal meetings with members from both locals involved. 

“Since 2023, we’ve been identifying and working with unit leaders to improve communication and organization,” said Poynter, “In such a large unit it’s hard to keep everyone informed. It’s going to take more than just our bargaining committee.”

Local 89 and Local 100 are building a united Contract Action Team to work alongside the bargaining committee. 

“The Contract Action Team is organizing inside the sort, and the ramp and tug. We’ll be working together, keeping everyone updated, planning days of action,” said Stevenson. 

“Three years ago, sort workers weren’t in the union yet and management could undercut the ramp and tug strike by pulling from the sort. This time, it’s all of us together,” said Stevenson. 

“We can shut the whole hub down. We’ll be ready.”