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rshoe4056

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DHL Drivers in Sacramento Sue Over Illegal Independent Contractor Status


SACRAMENTO, Calif., May 31 /PRNewswire/ -- Three drivers for package delivery
service DHL have filed a class action lawsuit in Sacramento Superior Court
against the company, challenging the illegal classification of many of its
drivers as independent contractors.

The unlawful job status has allowed the company to avoid paying overtime
wages and to require workers to bankroll the cost of their delivery vans, gas,
vehicle maintenance and repair, payroll services and many other expenses.

The Sacramento drivers are among hundreds of DHL workers nationwide who
have chosen Teamster union representation in the past several months.

"We want to be treated right and have our employer bear its fair share of
these expenses. With Teamster representation, we now have a voice in the
workplace," said Sara Shook, a former DHL driver in Sacramento.

Under California law, employers are required to pay all necessary
employee expenses. They are also required to pay non-exempt employees a rate of
time- and-a-half for work exceeding eight hours a day and 40 hours a week.

"It's a disgrace that right here in Sacramento, this $40-billion
corporation makes its employees supply their own van and buy their own gas while
paying them poverty wages," said the drivers' attorney, Jason Rabinowitz of the
labor law firm Beeson, Tayer & Bodine.

DHL, a German-based company, is the largest package delivery company in
the world, although it does not yet have substantial market share in the United
States.

"DHL ads say their drivers are 'lean and hungry,' and it's quite
literally true," said Pilar Barton, Organizing Director for Local 150. "DHL drivers
average between $7 and $9 per hour with no medical benefits, no retirement and
no paid sick leave, vacation or holidays. DHL's business plan to compete with
UPS is poverty wages, high turnover, and vicious Union-busting," Barton said.

The lawsuit demands payment of back wages and employee expenses going
back four years. It is filed as a class action on behalf of all current and
former DHL drivers throughout California who were improperly classified as
"independent contractors."

DHL does not hire its drivers directly, but uses contractor companies to
retain them. The lawsuit also names one such contractor, DNM Delivery
Solutions, and its owner, Dewey McDaniel.

SOURCE Teamsters Local 150
 
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plisken

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I saw a dhl guy at my condo complex take at least 5 minutes to walk around with a small package looking for the address. He was in no hurry at all. The fedex ground guy who's been working my neighborhood lately is slow as hell too. He's probably sick of working out of that 'budget' rent-a-truck, and having to open and close that roller door in the back every delivery.
I'm glad I don't work for these companies, it's easy to bitch about ups until you look at what the 'competition' has to offer their employees. Looks like they're getting the shaft big time!!!!
 
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