ABX Air cutting more jobs at Wilmington hub
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
WILMINGTON — ABX Air Inc., operator of DHL's U.S. freight hub at Wilmington where thousands of job losses are expected in 2009, said it is laying off 283 employees from now through Dec. 5.
The job cuts include ramp loaders, hardware technicians, sort supervisor, lead sorters and hazardous-materials specialists, among others.
The cutback is in addition to an elimination of 158 jobs that ABX announced last week, which will be done through Jan. 14.
DHL has announced a massive cost-cutting, restructuring program which will reduce its U.S. express delivery service to international, cross-border deliveries after Jan. 30. DHL said it also hopes to conclude a contract to hire United Parcel Service by the end of this year to take over its U.S. cargo sorting and flying, shifting that work to the UPS hub at Louisville, Ky. That will eliminate DHL's need for its Wilmington freight hub and cost an estimated 7,000 or so jobs remaining there.
The Wilmington operation is the largest employer in the region. ABX Air operates the hub under contract to DHL.
