DHL Express US air hub workers reach tentative deal with Teamsters union

(Reuters) -The Teamsters union said on Tuesday it has reached a tentative agreement with about 1,100 DHL Express workers at the delivery company’s main U.S. air hub, ending a 12-day strike that began earlier this month during the busy holiday season.

The contract, yet to be ratified by the Teamsters-represented workers, includes provisions for enhanced workplace safety, higher wages and better benefits, the union said.

Where additional details need to be finalized, DHL Express said, “we remain committed in continuing to bargain in good faith until a final agreement can be reached.”

Newly organized workers at DHL Express, a unit of Deutsche Post (OTC:), had gone on strike on Dec. 7 to protest certain labor practices and stalled contract talks.

The strike had threatened to delay packages during the critical peak holiday shipping season when package carriers such as DHL, FedEx (NYSE:) and United Parcel Service (NYSE:) see volumes spike.

The Teamsters-represented workers load and unload DHL Express airplanes at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, one of DHL’s largest and busiest logistics hub in North America.

The Teamsters is looking to intensify organizing activity following a closely watched contract deal at the world’s biggest delivery firm UPS in August.