The Air Line Pilots Association voiced concern Thursday for the jobs of crewmembers employed at ASTAR Air Cargo, which is 49-percent owned by DHL.

DHL's announcement that it would shift North American air lift to UPS comes less than three months after ALPA and ASTAR agreed to a new collective bargaining agreement with job security commitments that were approved and backed by DHL. ASTAR crewmembers carry approximately 50 percent of DHL tonnage out of its Wilmington, Ohio hub, which is slated for closing once DHL phases out its outsourced flying there by the end of 2009.

"Any decision by DHL to circumvent its commitments to both ASTAR and ALPA would be a despicable act and a demonstration of this corporation's utter contempt for the many American workers who have devoted their careers to this company," said Captain Pat Walsh, chairman of the ASTAR pilots union.

ALPA intends to investigate the decision-making process at DHL and to inquire into why the details of DHL's discussions with UPS were kept from both ASTAR and ALPA during labor negotiations, said Walsh.

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Robert W. Moorman