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[TeamsterUnity]

How is DHL conducting the bumps,

Below is most of the text of the letter received by one of the 419 in the first bump and roll:
August 6, 2008

Reduction in Local 295 Workforce

The Company has recently notified your representative, IBT Local 295 of the need to reduce the workforce. You have been identified as a driver who will be affected by this layoff. Based on your position on the most recent seniority list, you will not be laid off; however, your current status will be affected. This means that you will be offered a position either in a different station and/or in a Part Time status, depending on your seniority date.

Attached to this letter is a packet of information that includes a distance matrix which will show the distance of all stations from your current station, information regarding health benefits, information on Part Time shifts at the JFK Gateway and a bid sheet for you to complete. You must complete the bid sheet within 24 hours, sign it and hand it in to your steward. The bid sheets of all the effected employees will be gathered and then the positions will be awarded based on bargaining unit seniority date.

Your Steward will give you an assigned number between one and 419. This number represents your seniority among the drivers in the “bump and roll” process. You must chose an many preferences as your assigned seniority number. For instance, if your number is 225, you must pick your top 225 choices from the openings on the bid sheet.

If there are no positions available within 30 miles or less from your current station, you will be permitted (but not required) to select a position. If you decide to refuse all available positions, you will be laid off and placed on a recall list and will be called as positions become available based on seniority. If, however, there is a position available within 30 miles, you must select a position or you will be considered a voluntary quit and will not be placed on a recall list. Please note, that if you decide not to accept a position, you must continue to work through this week in order to be placed on the recall list. Employees who do not work throughout this process will be considered a voluntary quit, not eligible for recall.

If you are a Full Time employee and you choose a Part time position, you will be placed on a “Downgraded” list and will be notified in seniority order of Full Time positions as they become available in any station. If you refuse any Full Time position, you will retain your place on the seniority list and will continue to be offered Full Time positions as they are available. Once you choose a Full Time position, you will be removed from the “Downgraded” list. You may only choose a position pursuant to this process once and you must then remain in your chosen position until the entire recall process is completed.

If you are laid off, you will be placed on a recall list and will be called back to work when positions become available. If a position becomes available within 30 miles or less from your current station, you must accept the position, or you will be removed from the list and considered a voluntary quit. If a position that is offered to you is more than 30 miles from your current station, you may take that position or refuse it without losing your position on the recall list.

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[TeamsterUnity]

Read the bump and roll letter ABOVE. DHL deceptively does not call it a layoff ("Based on your position on the most recent seniority list, you will not be laid off: however, your curent status will be affected. This means that you will be offered a position either in a different station and/or in a Part Time status, depending on your seniority date.") The Bump and Roll is a forced relocation and/or demotion scheme which DHL knows will result in layoffs and voluntary quits. Your willingness to be relocated and/or demoted, not your seniority, determines whether you are laid off or not.