Just a little over a year ago, DHL’s Cincinnati air hub—their largest in the US—was completely non-union. Two organizing drives and a major strike later, it’s a very different story. More than 2,500 ramp and sort workers are now Teamsters, with higher wages and a union contract.

The organizing victory shows that when Teamsters go big and go bold, we get results. Here’s why the DHL campaigns chart a path for the future of our union.

1: Teamsters can win elections with big units in core industries

To rebuild Teamster power, our union needs to organize large groups of workers in core workplaces like warehouses and distribution hubs.

Too much organizing in the past focused on small units outside of Teamster core industries.

Organizing in our core industries doesn’t just build our numbers. It builds our power.

Organizing 2,500 more DHL Teamsters means more leverage at the bargaining table in national negotiations with DHL. It also gives Teamsters more power to set industry standards in parcel delivery.

Organizing the nonunion competition in our core industries increases our bargaining leverage with Teamster employers and positions our union to organize Amazon, FedEx and other logistics employers.

2: Militant tactics get results

After the ramp workers joined the Teamsters, DHL dragged their feet for months to try to prevent members from winning their first contract.

US labor law makes it too easy for employers to break the law, and many workers who vote to join a union can never get a contract.

But DHL CVG workers were able to defeat the union-busters thanks to a militant tactic: extending picket lines.

When the ramp workers went on strike for a first contract, they extended their picket lines to DHL hubs in 15 cities, where Teamsters honored their picket lines.

By joining forces with 6,000 DHL Teamsters across the country, CVG workers crippled the company’s operations during crucial peak season weeks—and won.

3: Organizing is contagious

At first, only the ramp-and-tug workers organized with the Teamsters.

The 12-day strike at DHL won more than wage increases and a union contract for 1,100 ramp and tug workers.

The union also negotiated card check neutrality for 1,300 DHL sort workers at CVG.

Under the agreement, if a majority of sort workers signed a union card, they would become Teamsters – and that’s exactly what happened.

In August 2024, the sort workers completed their card check campaign and became members of Teamsters Local 89.

Big organizing drives and militant tactics aren’t just a one-off investment: with smart bargaining and outreach, wins can lead to more and bigger wins.

4: Contract campaigns and organizing drives build leaders

The organizing drives, contract negotiations, and a strike gave workers a chance to step up shop floor organizers and leaders.

DHL workers at CVG are now injecting that energy into their local Teamsters unions. They are working as business agents and organizers on new campaigns to organize warehousing and logistics workers across the country.

The organizing drive also gave next-generation Teamster leaders an opportunity to learn how to build the union with new organizing.

During the ramp campaign, up-and-coming organizers from across the country participated in weekend trainings and house-call “blitzes.” The union put the talent of young and proud Teamsters who cut their teeth on contract campaigns to work on organizing new members.

Organizers who were trained during the DHL blitzes are now taking those skills forward in organizing campaigns in their own locals, or on national campaigns like Amazon.

Many of these organizers are proud TDU members.

To rebuild Teamster power, we need more leaders at every level of our union. Ambitious organizing drives and contract campaigns add more leaders to the ranks of the Teamsters.

5: Amazon workers are watching

CVG airport is also the largest US air-cargo hub for Amazon. Amazon’s “KCVG” air hub processes nearly a million packages a day.

Workers starting to organize at KCVG affiliated with Teamsters Local 89 in April. Momentum has been building: workers held a one-day ULP strike in July that scrambled Amazon’s air operations during Prime week. Petitions and marches on the boss have forced concessions from management and sent Amazon executives scrambling to recruit more union-busters.

The win at DHL is building confidence for Amazon workers at KCVG. DHL workers stood up to the same illegal union-busting tactics that are now being used on Amazon KCVG workers—and won.