Local 727 Files New Unfair Labor Practice Charge Against CVS
CHICAGO, September 7, 2018 – Today, Teamsters Local 727 filed an Unfair Labor Practice charge against CVS (NYSE: CVS) as a result of the Company’s bad faith bargaining after negotiators continued delay tactics and refused to provide the Union with multiple dates for negotiations.
Local 727 demanded a return to face-to-face negotiations after nearly two years of CVS delaying progress in Federal Mediation and refusing to speak to the CVS Bargaining Committee. Among other delay tactics employed by the Company, CVS stalled negotiations by refusing to set dates to meet during mediation sessions and failing to timely respond to both the Union’s and the mediators proposed dates.
In order to prevent any further delays, Local 727 asked CVS negotiators to provide several dates for face-to-face negotiations when the parties ended mediation. The Company responded with ONE date and completely disregarded the Union’s request to set at least two meetings.
When the Union renewed its request for a minimum of one additional date, CVS’s lead negotiator outright refused, implying meeting more frequently would “simply waste more time…”
In actuality, CVS has wasted over 160 days by failing to promptly respond to requests for and proposals of meeting dates. Because of this, more than 700 days total has elapsed between meetings since the Union requested the parties begin mediation.
“CVS’s unwillingness to schedule meetings in advance, and more than one meeting at a time, not only disrespects the hardworking pharmacists who have been without a contract for more than two years,” said John Coli, Jr., Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 727, “it clearly shows the Company is not bargaining in good faith or putting forth any effort to reach a deal as the Union.”
With Local 727 filing a new ULP charge, CVS will need to justify its behavior to the National Labor Relations Board. It is the Union’s hope that the NLRB will determine that these actions by CVS were in bad faith and order CVS negotiators to provide more dates and meet more frequently.
“727 Pharmacists have run out of patience,” added Coli. “It’s time for CVS to show the same care for their employees as they show for their profits.”
The Teamsters Local 727 bargaining committee and CVS will hold their next collective bargaining meeting on Friday, September 21st. As of writing, the Union has received no other dates from CVS.
Teamsters Local 727 represents nearly 10,000 hardworking men and women throughout the Chicago area.
Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico.
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CONTACT: Melissa Senatore, (847) 696-7500
