GLCCD Presents and Refuses to Move on Live Loading Proposal, Offers No Movement on Health Care
On the first day of negotiations with Great Lakes Coca-Cola Distribution, Inc., a subsidiary of Reyes Holdings, Teamsters Local 727 proposed the elimination of live loading from the new successor collective bargaining agreement. The Union made it clear to GLCCD that the use of live loading has grown well beyond what was agreed upon during the parties’ 2015 contract negotiations and has become a major issue for many workers.
After months of refusing to make any movement on the issue and claiming the Company had “bought and paid for” live loading during the previous contract’s negotiations, GLCCD representatives at last returned to negotiations this morning with a live loading proposal. While the Company’s proposal does narrow the scope of live loading by specifying which of a General Laborer’s duties constitute live loading, GLCCD’s proposal is still broader than what was agreed to by the parties during the 2015 CBA negotiations.
Local 727 attempted in good faith to bridge the gap between the parties’ proposals and responded to the Company with a counterproposal that includes only those live loading standards that were agreed upon during the 2015 negotiations and implemented immediately after the last contract’s ratification. Rather than consider Local 727’s counterproposal, GLCCD representatives immediately informed the Union that the Company was unwilling to make any movement on their initial (and only) live loading proposal.
“In 2015, the Union and GLCCD agreed that the introduction of live loading would not significantly change workers’ daily duties. The Company did not keep its word,” said John Coli, Jr., Secretary-Treasurer of Local 727. “It’s shocking that GLCCD still wonders why its relationship with the Union and its employees is broken.”
Notably absent from all of the Company’s afternoon responses was movement of any kind on health care. While Local 727 has proposed to transition workers to the 100% employer-funded Union health care plan that costs GLCCD employees $0, GLCCD’s current proposal would introduce a new PPO health care plan that includes the following weekly premiums for employees:
Despite having had the Union’s comprehensive contract proposal for several months, GLCCD essentially asked Local 727 to bargain against itself when it requested this afternoon that the Union narrow its focus. The Company claimed it doesn’t know where to begin because there is a long list of remaining Union proposals. In order to advance negotiations, Local 727 yet again spent valuable bargaining time reorganizing the Union’s remaining economic contract proposals into a roadmap for GLCCD to follow.
“This is the last time the Union will hold GLCCD representatives’ hands. It’s time the Company’s negotiators step-up and begin doing their jobs,” added Coli. “Local 727 demands GLCCD come to our last bargaining session prepared to reach a fair deal.”
The parties currently have one remaining bargaining day scheduled for Tuesday, April 23. The current contracts covering GLCCD employees are set to expire on April 30.
Members with questions should contact Local 727 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.
