Unifor reaches deal with DHL Express across Canada

TORONTO, Dec. 5, 2013 /CNW/ - Unifor reached a tentative deal at 2am today for a new contract for its members at DHL Express across Canada, two hours into a strike.

Final details are to be worked out in the coming days, and ratifications votes set up in numerous locations.

"Deadline bargaining and continued solidarity made this deal possible," said Bob Orr, Unifor Assistant to the President, adding the bargaining committee is unanimously recommending that the deal be ratified.

Unifor represents more than 600 DHL workers across the country in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Nova Scotia.  Members voted on average 98 per cent in favour of a strike if necessary. Only eight Toronto members ended up on strike before the deal was reached.

Unifor members at DHL Express deliver and pick up packages across Canada, including international freight.  Negotiations have been ongoing since May 2013.

DHL is part of the world's leading postal and logistics Group, Deutsche Post DHL, and encompasses three divisions: DHL Express, DHL Global Forwarding, Freight and DHL Supply Chain.

Unifor is Canada's largest union in the private sector, with than 300,000 workers across Canada. Unifor was founded on Labour Day weekend by the Canadian Auto Workers union (CAW) and the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada (CEP).

SOURCE: Unifor