Union Fighting CVS on Multiple Fronts
While Teamsters Local 727 is currently engaged in contract negotiations with CVS, it also continues to fight the Company’s bad behavior on several other fronts.
The Union has filed numerous grievances against CVS, as well as unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board, and is processing multiple grievances through the arbitration procedure. For example, arbitration hearings are currently being scheduled on the following grievances/issues:
- Full-time/Part-time classification and cutoff of hours
- Baby bonding/leave of absence time
- Meal and rest breaks scheduling and administration
- Personal days administration
The Union also filed unfair labor practice charges with the NLRB over baby bonding and CVS’s unilateral changes to personal day administration. These charges are still pending and have been deferred by the NLRB to arbitration.
CVS’s egregiousness is most apparent by its refusal to arbitrate due to the, now expired, CBA. Some of these grievances are over holiday pay, holiday coverage, meeting compensation, and vacation payout. Other outstanding grievances the Company refuses to arbitrate are over personal day administration, terminations of two members, and suspension of one member. The Union will continue to push these grievances to arbitration despite CVS’s apparent unwillingness to arbitrate.
“Whether it’s contract negotiations or arbitration hearings, the Union will not be deterred by CVS’s stubbornness and delay tactics,” said John Coli Jr., Secretary-Treasurer of Local 727. “We are prepared to fight for our Brothers and Sisters for as long as it takes.”
On a positive note, Local 727 has successfully settled two grievances in favor of members:
- Local 727 had a Level 2 disciplinary write-up received for not meeting store metrics removed from the file of a PIC.
- The Union obtained several hours of vacation pay that had been improperly withheld for a pharmacist.
Anyone who would like to volunteer to testify at any of the above arbitration hearings 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 additional grievance. The union does not forfeit its right to make any and all supplemental arguments.
