The Center for Trade Union and Human Rights (CTUHR) condemns today logistics giant DHL Supply Chain’s threat to terminate 473 warehouse workers in Muntinlupa under the guise of redundancy. Likewise, CTUHR expresses its support for the workers’ ongoing strike against the management. CTUHR calls the DHL’s action a blatant act of union-busting and a clear attempt to evade collective bargaining agreement.

CTUHR warns that DHL’s planned shutdown at its Sucat, Muntinlupa warehouse targets the bargaining unit of the DHL United Workers Union (DUWU). This shows how corporate employers continue to use questionable redundancy schemes to weaken and dismantle legitimate worker organizations.

“We are very alarmed that DHL declared a sudden shutdown to evade bargaining with its newly certified workers’ union. The threat of redundancy and refusal to negotiate are unacceptable. We call on DHL management to stop using fabricated excuses, end its union busting efforts, and respect the fundamental rights of its workers,” Kamz Deligente, CTUHR executive director.

The dispute escalated on July 21, 2026, during the first conciliation conference before the National Conciliation and Mediation Board. The management distributed redundancy letters with pre-computed severance packages to the 473 workers, warning them of termination on August 31.

“The threat of terminating these 473 workers shows DHL’s disregard for workers’ right to freedom of association. What DHL should do is bargain in good faith and stop threatening workers with retrenchment,” Deligente added.

Napoleon Arumin, the 59-year old union president who led the DUWU to a landmark certification victory, is currently leading the fight against the impending termination and union busting efforts of the management. DUWU points out that the DHL’s claim of contract expiration with Robinsons Supermarket is completely fabricated.

“The workers’ rejection of this fabricated excuse of contract expiration sends a clear message to DHL management: union busting will not be tolerated and workers will not be silenced through threats of mass termination. The practice of suddenly claiming that a facility is closing or that contracts have expired whenever workers form a union is an old union-busting tactic that must end. The company cannot continue to ignore the collective bargaining proposals of its employees, who have suffered from persistent wage distortion since 2018,” Deligente added.

CTUHR underscores that DHL is a signatory to a Global Framework Agreement with the International Transport Workers Federation and UNI Global Union. Under this agreement, the multinational company commits to respecting freedom of association, collective bargaining, and constructive labor relations across its global operations.

“DHL’s local management is violating workers’ right to organize and their right to security of tenure guaranteed under the 1987 Philippine Constitution and the Labor Code. CTUHR stands in solidarity with DHL workers and calls on Marcos Jr. administration and the Labor and Employment Secretary Francis N. Tolentino to do the necessary interventions to uphold workers’ rights,” Deligente concluded.