End of Three-Week Lockout and Strike at DHL Express Canada as Workers Ratify New Agreement

Canada’s largest private sector union, Unifor, has announced that the three-week lockout and strike at DHL Express Canada is coming to an end as workers have ratified a new agreement.

The four-year agreement, which was reached with the delivery company, has been ratified with an impressive 72 per cent support from members, according to Unifor.

Key points of the agreement include a significant 15.75 per cent wage increase, pension enhancements for hourly workers, and the introduction of a new pension plan for owner-operators.

In addition, the agreement features improvements to short- and long-term disability benefits, the introduction of new mental health benefits, an increase in severance packages, and updated provisions regarding artificial intelligence, robotics, and work-from-home policies.

The agreement will impact over 2,100 DHL Express Canada employees who hold various roles such as truck drivers, couriers, warehouse workers, and clerical staff.

The workers were locked out after midnight on June 8 and subsequently went on strike soon after.

Unifor has confirmed that DHL workers will be returning to work following the ratification of the agreement, although a specific timeline has not yet been provided.