Key takeaways:
- DHL Canada locked out employees as part of heightening labor tensions.
- The union side of the dispute, representing 2,100 Canadian DHL employees, initiated a strike in response.
- DHL said that the lockout will not significantly disrupt its operations.
Major LTL carrier DHL locked out workers across Canada this week amid labor disputes.
DHL Canada, part of DHL Worldwide Express (No. 59 on the FleetOwner 500: For-Hire), initiated the lockout on June 8 during strike threats and tense negotiations with major Canadian union Unifor.
The company issued a lockout notice on June 4. Unifor launched a strike after the lockout took place.
The union is representing 2,100 DHL employees, including drivers, couriers, and warehouse and clerical workers. Unifor and DHL are negotiating wages, working conditions, surveillance, and automation issues.
The major North American carrier claimed that the lockout will not significantly disrupt its services, according to Canadian Press News, citing a proactive, unspecified “contingency plan.”
The union said that the carrier brought temporary replacement workers as the contingency plan for the work stoppage. Canada is introducing legislation that would ban replacement workers in specific workplaces starting June 20, which could include DHL's parcel workers.
"DHL sees this as a bit of a loophole and a time for them to put maximum pressure on our membership to concede," a Unifor spokesperson told Canadian Press News.
About the Author
Jeremy Wolfe
Editor
Editor Jeremy Wolfe joined the FleetOwner team in February 2024. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point with majors in English and Philosophy. He previously served as Editor for Endeavor Business Media's Water Group publications.