Union Secures Multiple Tentative Agreements from Dr Pepper
During the parties’ second bargaining session of the week, Teamsters Local 727 and the American Bottling Company, a subsidiary of Keurig Dr Pepper, made significant progress on several outstanding non-economic matters.
Today, Local 727 and Dr Pepper successfully reached tentative agreements on scheduling items, including cross-training and overtime language. The tentative agreement on overtime would allow overtime to be offered first to volunteers, then assigned by classification seniority, thereby alleviating many members’ current overtime concerns.
The Union bargaining committee also secured a tentative agreement with Dr Pepper on an enhanced grievance procedure that mirrors the Outside contract. The tentatively agreed upon procedure eliminates the Labor Management Committee and introduces a streamlined two-step grievance procedure. When the parties met last year for negotiations on an Outside Dr Pepper contract, it took nearly four times longer to reach a tentative agreement on a grievance procedure.
“We hope today’s success is a signal that Dr Pepper management has learned their lesson,” said John Coli, Jr., Secretary-Treasurer of Local 727. “If the Company continues to arrive to negotiations open and willing to bargain in good faith with the Local 727 bargaining committee, there should be no reason why we can’t reach a fair agreement before the current contract expires.”
Dr Pepper also admitted today that there are issues with managers performing bargaining unit work and requested the Union’s assistance in policing the issue. The Company has committed to resolving all instances brought to its attention. If any Dr Pepper member observes a manager performing bargaining unit work in violation of the CBA, please inform your steward and management immediately.
The Local 727 bargaining committee also reiterated again today its demand for a 3-year contract term that will align the Inside and Outside CBAs. Likewise, the Union continued to press Dr Pepper for the inclusion of contract language which will allow employees to honor sanctioned picket/strike lines.
The parties will resume negotiations again tomorrow, Wednesday, March 20th.
Members with questions should contact Business Representative Caleen Carter-Patton 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: BEVERAGE
