DHL Pullout Sends Ohioans to Food Lines

The German global shipper, DHL, is shuttering the Airborne Express operations it purchased in 2003 (source: Wikipedia). The impact to the community is devastating.

The DHL and Wilmington Ohio story was profiled by 60 Minutes.

Other multinational corporations are or will be doing the same in the months ahead. Because of trade pacts such as NAFTA there are limited to no protections for workers.

Here's a quote from a former DHL worker from the 60 Minutes site:

"Most DHL employees are contracted (75-80%) Most of us didnt get sevrence [sic] packages or any help when we got laid off. We didnt get help at having and opppertunity [sic] to have some one come in and help us into another trasition [sic] to another job. We worked for years, like myself, 8+ years with no holiday pay,no insurance,abd [sic] working on a salary. Most people would ask why stay at a job with no benefits,etc?? Because we loved what we did." - Posted by needwork2 Jan 28, 2009

There is a project co-sponsored by Ohio State University and The Times-Gazette that will track the impact of this closing. To share your story contact them at: southernohiovoices@gmail.com.

[Image: Skip Peterson/Associated Press)