Union Vows to Fight On At DHL in Eastern PA

Despite losing a union-representation election, an APWU-led organizing committee will press on in its campaign for workers’ rights at a sorting facility just outside of Allentown, PA.

“We are deeply disappointed that our quest … has initially failed,” the DHL Workers Organizing Committee said in a letter to union supporters following the Sept. 12 election defeat. “We appreciate all that our co-workers did to help with the campaign. … The struggle will continue!”

The APWU has been trying to organize approximately 400 workers at the DHL package-distribution center. The National Labor Relations Board reported that the vote was 217 to 135. Earlier this year, nearly 150 workers signed a petition demanding that the company cease its “anti-union” activities and the NLRB has ordered a hearing on the allegations of harassment of union organizers.

“Everyone knows that this was not a ‘free and fair’ election,” the workers’ committee wrote. “Company fear tactics of intimidation; threats of loss of wages; the onslaught of false propaganda; and promises of improvements if we voted against the union, combined to disorient us from our initial overwhelming support for our union future.”

http://www.apwu.org/news/webart/2007/webart-0787-dhl-070919.htm