US pilots’ picket over DHL transfer deal

28 July 2008

Pilots’ groups and their supporters staged a picket in the US last Thursday as part of a continuing campaign against an agreement between DHL and UPS to transfer some of its operations.

Members of the ITF-affiliated union, Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), employed by Astar, were joined by union colleagues from other airlines, in front of UPS’s world headquarters in Atlanta, US. They are furious over plans by DHL to transfer its north American air cargo operation from Astar – whose main client is DHL – to UPS. Some 10,000 jobs could be cut if the plans go ahead.

“We’re urging UPS to do the right thing – for American workers and American consumers – and stop this deal now,” said Captain Pat Walsh, Chairman of the Astar unit of Alpa. “UPS has a long history of delivering packages and business solutions. It should say ‘No!’ to delivering 10,000 termination notices to hard-working Americans.”

Tony Bardoli, a UPS software engineer employed by UPS, who joined the picket during his lunch break, was so moved by the plight of the pilots that he resigned on the spot in support of their cause. He said that his decision had been spurred by the fact that the transfer deal could destroy the livelihoods of so many families.

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