Teamsters Successfully Organize Two DHL Subcontractors in Just 24 Hours

In a remarkable turn of events, fifty-five drivers employed by Cartage Services by DeliverOL and Driven-Force Inc., both subcontractors for DHL Express, have voted unanimously to join Teamsters Local 745. This collective action occurred within just 24 hours, demonstrating the workers' desire for improved wages, benefits, and enhanced workplace protections that their fellow Teamsters across the country enjoy.

Malik Hathorn, one of the drivers at Cartage Services and now a proud member of Local 745, stated, "We wear DHL uniforms, deliver DHL packages, and drive DHL trucks, but we are paid considerably less than DHL Teamsters. We organized because we saw what our Teamsters brothers and sisters at DHL have won, and we know we deserve the same. Now we're ready to fight for it at the bargaining table."

The organizing efforts were not without challenges. During the campaign, both subcontractors attempted to thwart the drivers' attempts to organize by engaging in multiple unfair labor practices and hiring expensive outside consultants to act as union-busters. However, these efforts ultimately proved futile, as drivers at both companies managed to vote unanimously in favor of joining the Teamsters.

Calvin Dawson, a driver at Driven-Force Inc. and a new member of Local 745, voiced the sentiments of many: "We had some simple questions for the union buster management flew in from Florida – who do you work for, and whose interests are you here to protect? The company paid for his fees, hotel, airfare, and meals, but we firmly told him that we are Teamsters, 100 percent, and we aren't going anywhere."

The Teamsters union, which represents thousands of workers within DHL and its various subsidiaries and subcontractors across the U.S., has gained significant momentum in recent months. Just this past May, the union successfully ratified a new national master agreement that garnered substantial wage increases and improved health and welfare contributions, while also establishing safeguards against AI-driven routing systems and the rise of autonomous vehicles.

As Spencer Dearth, Director of the Teamsters Logistics Division, articulated, "We are organizing every corner of DHL's operation and building the power necessary to raise standards for anyone who moves a DHL package. These drivers stood together, defeated the company's union-busting campaign, and voted unanimously to join their local. Now we will turn that unity into strong first contracts."

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters has grown to represent over 1.3 million hardworking individuals across the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico, advocating tirelessly for labor rights and equitable treatment in the workplace. The successful organization of these drivers marks a pivotal victory not only for them but also showcases the power of collective action in the face of adversity.

For more information about the Teamsters and their ongoing efforts to empower workers, please visit Teamster.org. Stay updated with the union's activities by following them on social media at X @Teamsters and on Facebook at Facebook.com/teamsters.