Dr Pepper’s Health Care Powerpoint Presentation Confirms Union Suspicions that the Company is Out of Touch with what Employees Need

This morning, the American Bottling Company, a Keurig Dr Pepper subsidiary, began the day’s bargaining session by presenting Teamsters Local 727 with what it called a “comprehensive counterproposal” that ultimately made little to no movement from the Company’s last proposal.  In fact, Dr Pepper’s counterproposal was a mere $0.0005 increase in the commission pickers rate.

Dr Pepper then proceeded to waste time by presenting the Powerpoint presentation it had already provided to the Union bargaining committee on Friday.  During the presentation, the Dr Pepper health care representative attempted to downplay the fact that premiums would double under the new program and that there would be no real gain for members. In fact, Dr Pepper’s solution to offset some of the increases was to “snag coupons.”  At the end of the absurd presentation, the Company indicated it was not “offering” a PPO.

Local 727 quickly responded to the lack of economic movement and ridiculous health care proposal by presenting a full economic package that included 100% employer paid Union health care under a PPO plan for all Inside employees.

“Dr Pepper’s attempt to sell members on its costly health care changes won’t work.  Additionally, providing a presentation on something the Union bargaining committee fully understood on Friday just makes it seem like Dr Pepper is questioning the intelligence of its workforce,” said John Coli, Jr., Secretary-Treasurer of Local 727.  “At the end of the day, the vast majority of employees are enrolled in the current PPO plan.  Elimination of this longstanding benefit will not get us to a deal anytime soon.”

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