Teamsters Approve Contract Extension With DHL’s Air Express International

Teamsters union workers employed by DHL subsidiary Air Express International have approved a one-year contract extension, the union said.

The union said it agreed to the extension in exchange for an agreement from AEI to maintain existing health, welfare and pension funds, as well as a $750 bonus.

The contract, which covers about 800 workers, was approved by an 84% to 16% vote, the Teamsters said.

The union said it expects substantial operational changes to AEI in late 2013 and that it signed the extension in part to allow more time to investigate the company’s new business model and its impact on workers.

“The Teamsters union continues to meet with management, and we continue to closely monitor the changes being proposed to make sure our members’ jobs are protected,” Bill Hamilton, director of the Teamsters’ express division, said in a statement.