Between 60 and 70 DHL pilots and workers are expected to protest in front of UPS’ Sandy Springs headquarters for two hours today.

The pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, will be doing “informational picketing” about a proposed deal for UPS to fly DHL’s air cargo in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

This will be the pilots’ third protest, following one at DHL headquarters in Plantation, Fla., and another at a DHL-sponsored Major League Baseball event in New York.

“We want to make the public aware of this proposed agreement that would cause the loss of 10,000 jobs and we believe violates U.S. antitrust laws,” said Pat Walsh, an ALPA officer who represents 500 pilots at ASTAR, a cargo carrier that currently has DHL’s contract to fly cargo and is 49 percent owned by DHL. Another air cargo carrier represented by the Teamsters, ABX, also stands to lose its contract. DHL’s hub is in Wilmington, Ohio.

“Nobody wants to see job losses in the United States,” said UPS spokesman Norman Black.

“But this is not a UPS issue. DHL has to decide where they want to award contracts for airlift. [The pilots] need to continue talking to DHL. It is not our decision.”

Black said that if the deal goes through, it will keep 14,400 UPS workers employed in Ohio. He also rejected claims the deal would violate antitrust regulations. He said it’s similar to a deal that FedEx and UPS have to transport U.S. Postal Service air cargo.

Nonetheless, Ohio congressional leaders have asked the Department of Justice to monitor the proposed deal. The White House has said it will appoint someone to watch the deal.

Tags: DHL cargo