Union and Freeman Make Significant Progress on Warehouse Contract Negotiations
On November 13th, Teamsters Local 727 and Freeman Decorating Company made significant progress towards reaching an agreement for a new contract covering employees in Freeman’s warehouse. Upon reconvening negotiations this past week, the parties successfully reached tentative agreements on several non-economic issues including paid time off and seniority.
Local 727 and Freeman have reached a tentative agreement which combines sick and vacation time into “Paid Time Off.” Additionally, the parties have tentatively agreed to an increase in the number of PTO days employees are eligible to receive. Employees with 1 or more years of service will receive a minimum of 1 additional PTO day and, dependent on their years of service, may receive as many as 4 additional PTO days.
In addition to increasing employee’s PTO days, the tentative agreement also introduces a system for pro-rating PTO so employees will no longer be required to work 1,000 hours in a year in order to receive vacation time. Now, employees who work 1,000 hours or more will receive 100% of the PTO available at their seniority level, employees who work 750 hours or more will receive 75% of the PTO, employees who work 500 hours or more will receive 50% of the PTO, employees who work 250 hours or more will receive 25% of the PTO, and all employees who work a minimum of 4 hours in a year will receive 16 hours of PTO.
Local 727 has also successfully negotiated tentative agreements which define an employee’s seniority date as the employee’s first day of work (regardless of the probationary period) and which requires Freeman to provide employees with at least 48-hours notice, when possible, before a layoff.
Local 727 made significant progress during the latest bargaining session on the negotiation of contract language which would require Freeman to conduct all calls in seniority order. The Union is optimistic that members’ demands will be met and a tentative agreement on this issue will be reached when the parties next reconvene negotiations on Wednesday, November 21st.
“Our Union bargaining committee has done a tremendous job securing many of our members’ non-economic demands right off the bat,” stated John Coli, Jr., Secretary-Treasurer of Local 727. “We look forward to keeping the momentum going as we delve into economics at our next bargaining session.”
Members with questions should contact Local 727 Business Representative Mike DeGard 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.
Category: TRADE SHOW
