Preflight Members Ratify New Contract, Drivers to Receive Sick/Personal Leave for First Time

| July 26, 2019

Last week, Teamsters Local 727 members employed by Preflight LLC as shuttle drivers overwhelmingly ratified a new 4-year successor collective bargaining agreement.  The new contract includes across-the-board wage increases for all Preflight members, extends holiday pay to part-time employees, and—for the very first time—guarantees paid sick and/or personal leave for all drivers.

Under the newly ratified CBA, all Preflight members will receive a minimum $2.35 wage increase over the life of the agreement.  The successor contract also includes a new overnight differential premium.  Members that work an overnight shift will now receive an additional $0.75 per hour shift premium for their late-night work.

The successor CBA also includes new contract language that guarantees part-time employees who have worked for Preflight for 6 or more months will receive holiday pay for New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.  Part-timers’ holiday pay will be pro-rated and calculated based upon his or her average weekly hours.

The Union bargaining committee has also successfully negotiated a generous vacation package as well as paid sick and/or personal leave for all Preflight employees.  According to the ratified CBA, employees who have worked for 6 or more months will receive 5 paid sick and/or personal days at the beginning of each calendar year.  Additionally, effective January 1, 2023, all eligible members will receive an additional sick and/or personal day each year, bringing the total number of sick and/or personal days for Preflight drivers up to 6.  Full-time employees will be compensated 8 hours of pay per sick/personal day, while part-time employees’ compensation will be pro-rated based upon his or her average weekly hours.  The CBA also specifies that unused sick and/or personal days will be paid out to Preflight employees at the end of each year.

“Safely navigating the hectic, rushed traffic near O’Hare is no simple task, and yet our Preflight members do it daily.  They work hard each and every day to ensure their passengers safely reach their destinations—that dedication deserves recognition,” said John Coli, Jr., Secretary-Treasurer of Local 727. “Local 727 is proud to have negotiated a strong successor contract that fairly compensates Preflight drivers for the care, skill, and professionalism they show behind the wheel.”

Members with questions should contact Local 727 Business Representative Melissa Senatore 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: Shuttles

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