Keurig Dr Pepper Management Cancels Salesmen Meeting, Refuses to Hold Meeting with Union Present—What is the Company Afraid of?

| February 13, 2020

Less than a day after the American Bottling Company, a Keurig Dr Pepper subsidiary, outrageously appealed the National Labor Relations Board’s recent Summary Order, Keurig Dr Pepper management abruptly cancelled a meeting with their Northlake-based salesmen employees this morning as a result of Teamsters Local 727 lead business representative Caleen Carter-Patton’s presence in the room.

As Keurig Dr Pepper knows, the Union has the right to be on-site as there are two collective bargaining agreements in effect at that location.  Despite the Union assuring management that it would not be disruptive and Northlake salesmen informing Keurig Dr Pepper that they had requested union representation, the Company immediately refused to conduct the meeting.

“The NLRB has repeatedly certified the salesmen’s election of Local 727 as their chosen union representative.  Keurig Dr Pepper should be ashamed of themselves for ignoring their employee’s democratic choice,” said John Coli, Jr., Secretary-Treasurer of Local 727.  “If the Company has nothing to hide, why would they refuse to conduct their meeting this morning?  What is the Company afraid of?”

In light of Keurig Dr Pepper appearing to have retained the Ford Harrison law firm to pursue its appeal, Local 727 yesterday submitted an information request to determine how much the Company has spent on outside counsel to fight its employees’ free choice.  Keurig Dr Pepper has yet to respond to the Union’s request.

“Local 727 is the democratically elected union representative of these men and women.  We will continue to fight until Keurig Dr Pepper respects their employees’ election decision and sits down with the Union to bargain in good faith over a first contract for the Northlake salesmen,” added Coli.

Local 727 urges all salesmen to continue to assert their rights and alert the Union to any future meetings scheduled by management.

Members with questions should contact Lead Business Representative Caleen Carter-Patton at (847) 696-7500 or [email protected].

Nothing in this article should be read as the union’s waiver of any legal argument, position or grievance(s), or as a waiver of any rights, arguments, or defenses under any contract, collective bargaining agreement, or applicable law.  The union does not forfeit its right to make any and all supplemental arguments.

Category: BEVERAGE

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