Preserve Private-Sector Jobs in Southern Ohio

(This article appeared in the September/October 2008 issue of The American Postal Worker magazine.)

Bill Manley, Director

An APWU drive to organize several hundred workers at DHL’s ABX “hub” in southwestern Ohio has shifted gears: The APWU is now at the forefront of a community-based campaign to try to preserve approximately 7,000 jobs.

Last spring, DHL announced a restructuring that is expected to eliminate nearly 9 out of 10 jobs at its site in Wilmington. Shortly thereafter, UPS announced its plans to take over DHL’s domestic air shipment of express and international packages.

That’s when the APWU swung into action and helped create the “Save the Jobs Coalition.” The union has been stymied in its organizing efforts by various unfair labor practices intended to stave off its organizing efforts until after UPS and DHL could merge. The STJ Coalition staged rallies and other events, including the presentation of a petition, signed by 11,000 area residents, to DHL and senior government officials.

“DHL received massive public tax incentives for the Wilmington hub with the corporate promise of jobs for the long run,” the petition said. “Shame on DHL, a profitable global company, for turning their back on the hard working employees of southern Ohio.”

“We call on DHL to immediately develop a new restructuring plan in such a way that maintains Wilmington as the central hub of DHL’s U.S. operations.”

Petitions were presented during a “Save the Jobs Coalition” rally that received significant news coverage.