October 17, 2007: National negotiations between the International Union and DHL opened in October in Arizona.

Apparently management reacted badly when the union presented demands based on the National Master Freight Agreement (NMFA), which is what members across the country demanded.

At the same time, DHL management sent a letter to their Teamster employees repeating their intent to get a UPS-style contract. What they mean by that is increasing the use of part-timers, a company-dominated grievance procedure, and complete control of the working environment. They definitely do not mean giving drivers a $6 per hour raise, to match UPS driver wages.

The union is allowing DHL to have national “supplements,” including a pick up and delivery supplement, which will include most DHL Teamsters. It is here that we have to be most on guard for concessions.

DHL Teamsters have networked nationally and continue to press to protect the NMFA language in their contract. They already stopped an early sell-out contract that was being bargained by DHL and Hoffa assistant Brad Slawson, after TDU blew the whistle on that deal.

Slawson still heads the union bargaining committee, but DHL Teamsters are getting involved and taking matters into their own hands.