Unifor members at DHL Express in Canada have voted to end a major labour dispute, reaching a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) that delivers substantial gains for workers, including a 15.75% wage increase across the duration of the agreement.
“This is a historic dispute in our union’s books because we were the test case for the new anti-scab legislation and our union and members stood tall, held strong, and the end result is we got a fair collective agreement,” said Unifor National President, Lana Payne.
The four-year agreement with DHL Express was ratified by 74% of Unifor’s members on 28 June 2025, officially ending a lockout and strike that had lasted nearly three weeks at DHL Express locations across Canada. The strike highlighted the importance of the federal anti-scab legislation that Unifor had fought hard for, and which came into effect during this dispute.
The new contract includes a 15.75% wage increase throughout its duration, a new payment structure for owner-operators, pension increases for hourly workers, and a new pension scheme for owner-operators. There are also increases to short- and long-term disability payments, a new mental health benefit, increases to severance and wage adjustments, as well as important language around AI, robotics and automation, and improved work-from-home provisions.
Unifor represents over 2,100 DHL Express Canada workers, including truck drivers, couriers, warehouse workers, and clerical staff across the country.
“Congratulations to Unifor and its members on securing this CBA,” said ITF General Secretary Stephen Cotton. “This is a significant win for all DHL employees in Canada and sets a precedent for ongoing negotiations with DHL worldwide. We commend the Unifor members who showed unwavering solidarity for almost three weeks. In some cases, they worked in record-breaking temperatures, yet they kept up their morale day after day.”
The ITF is party to an OECD Protocol with DHL Group and UNI Global Union. It establishes the global relationship between the three parties and serves as a framework for navigating and resolving industrial issues with DHL at a global level. The Protocol was first signed in July 2016 and most recently renewed in December 2024. The ITF’s priority is to implement the Protocol to improve outcomes for our affiliates and their members working at DHL and across its supply chain, and to enhance the company’s accountability for meeting its commitments.
