Voices from the workplace (DHL and contractors)…

The gift of union membership

I work for DHL at Copenhagen Airport, groundhandling the cargo planes and afterwards sorting the shipments. I have been working in this job for the last 12 years, and I have been a member of the union (Fagligt Faelles Forbund – 3F) for 30 years. In Denmark, it is a normal thing that most people are a member of a union. In the old days parents often gave union membership to their children as a present when they started to work.
I think organising is very important, both nationally and globally. It is vital for us to be able to represent ourselves as a group and negotiate together with the employers to get the best possible working conditions.

As we are working in such a global situation, international solidarity and communication is the best way to resolve some of the problems there are with multinational companies. In Denmark, everyone is covered by a collective agreement. Most blue collar workers are union members, but part time workers are often not organised. We will continue making our arguments to those who are still not members of the union.
-Jens Ole Neilsen, Copenhagen Airport, Denmark

Security in times of doubt

My job is dealing with problem shipment at the DHL Sorting Centre in Brussels Airport, and I have been doing this job for 16 years. I have been a member of the union (Syndicat des Employés, Techniciens et Cadres de Belgique) from the first day of my first job 26 years ago. Becoming a member of a union is a very strong tradition in my family. When one has any doubt as to whether one is being treated fairly by an employer, it makes a huge difference to be a union member. International solidarity and communication have never been as vital as they are today – for multinational companies, shareholders are much more important than the workers.

We have launched an awareness campaign amongst our staff. Two hundred staff members visited the new site in Leipzig (Germany) a few weeks ago, and hence the topic on getting organised globally is a rather hot one for us.
-Connie Van Den Bosch, Brussels Airport, Belgium

Bargaining for a strong pilots’ contract

I am a pilot with ABX Air, a contractor for DHL America Express. I am with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 1224, and we work in and out of Wilmington hub, Ohio. I am a 767 first officer. I have been with the company 11 years.

I joined the union when I became employed by ABX Air – at the time it was Airbourne Freight. I love the union. It has fought hard for a very good contract that we have. We are continuing to bargain for an even better contract, which we are confident we will get. We are very thankful for the Teamsters support we have got and we are looking forward to helping the Teamsters to organise other contractors and other portions of the DHL network.

International workers’ solidarity will be very important with the multinational corporations. It is a great way to level the playing fields so that workers in all the different countries can bargain for good solid contracts, that are beneficial to DHL and the workers. We will be supporting the organising drive by the Teamsters for the mechanics as well as the sort workers.
-Joel Chase, pilot, Wilmington. Ohio, USA

No union, but working on it

I am an aircraft mechanic for ABX Air – a freight haulier for DHL Systems. I don’t belong to a union right now but we are trying to get the Teamsters – we’re on an organising drive as we speak. We have to band together and show we are one. Anytime workers communicate and band together they win.
-Tom Pirantini, aircraft mechanic, Wilmington, Ohio, USA