Dr Pepper Sour After Union Strike Victory

Forty days after initiating an Unfair Labor Practice strike, more than 150 Teamsters Local 727 members returned to work today as drivers for the American Bottling Company, a subsidiary of Dr Pepper Snapple, Inc. that is set to merge with Keurig Green Mountain, Inc. later this month.  Remarkably, Dr Pepper corporate management has already reneged on the agreed upon Return to Work Agreement and begun behaving unprofessionally once again.

Following nearly seven weeks of unwavering Union solidarity on the ULP strike line and overwhelmingly ratifying the new Collective Bargaining Agreement on Sunday, July 1, 2018, the drivers reported for work early this morning only to find that the Company had neither cleaned nor thoroughly inspected every vehicle as required by the Return to Work Agreement signed by Dr Pepper.  Returning employees discovered filthy trucks in which temporary drivers hired by the Company during the ULP strike had left garbage and multiple vehicles that were inoperable.  In fact, one driver’s truck was unusable for nearly three hours.

Unsurprisingly, Dr Pepper corporate management was unable to maintain a professional demeanor and has resumed its disrespectful behavior almost immediately upon the employees’ return to work.  This morning, Dr Pepper lead negotiator Dave Timms resorted to insults, claiming that the Union representative was both “immature and unclassy.”

“If Dr Pepper believes it can return to its disrespectful and unfair old ways,” said John Coli, Jr., Secretary-Treasurer of Local 727, “it is sorely mistaken.  The Union has already proven its determination in holding the Company to what is right and fair.  We will ensure Dr Pepper meets its obligations under both the Return to Work and the Collective Bargaining Agreements.”

Nothing in this article should be read as the union’s waiver of any legal argument, position or grievance. The union does not forfeit its right to make any and all supplemental arguments.

Category: BEVERAGE