New GLCCD CBA Ratifies, Includes Wage Raises, New PPO Plan Option, Live Loading Limits, and Mix Mode Fix
Today, Teamsters Local 727 members employed by Great Lakes Coca-Cola Distribution voted to ratify a new 3-year successor collective bargaining agreement.
Among the top achievements of the Local 727 bargaining committee was the successful negotiation of an agreement which unifies the 3 contracts that previously covered all Inside and Outside GLCCD employees and GLCCD employees operating under the former Coca-Cola Refreshments contract into a single collective bargaining agreement. With the merger of the 3 previous contracts into 1 CBA, the Union will have even greater bargaining power during the parties’ next negotiations in 2022.
Under the newly ratified CBA, GLCCD members will receive annual wage raises that place bargaining unit members’ earnings at or above area industry standards. Additionally, effective April 26, 2020, all GLCCD merchandisers shall be transitioned to hourly employees. As such, half-time will be eliminated and all merchandisers will begin to receive time and a half for all overtime work.
“GLCCD underpaid and mistreated merchandisers for far too long. Since Day 1 of negotiations, Local 727 stood firm and made it clear that our merchandiser Brothers and Sisters deserved better. Now, thanks to the unwavering support of the Union bargaining committee, we have achieved just that,” said John Coli, Jr., Secretary-Treasurer of Local 727.
The Local 727 bargaining committee has also successfully negotiated a 7% cap on increases to employee contributions for the Company’s current HSA and HRA medical plans for the life of the agreement. The successor agreement also includes a new PPO health care plan option. The new PPO plan’s deductible, out-of-pocket maximum, and level of coverage will be locked-in and frozen for the duration of the new agreement.
Yet another success of the new CBA is the introduction of limits to live loading. According to the agreement, live loading will not include the stripping of trucks or loading of a truck where 7 or more pallets were prestaged. Instead, the contract specifies that live loading will only include a General Laborers’ loading of: (1) pallets that he or she has built; (2) pallets built by other General Laborers that could not be loaded because they were out of sequence; and (3) stock and/or layer pallets.
Additionally, the new contract contains mix mode improvements, including bulk stop and bulk pallet premiums for OFS drivers, a $15 bonus for OFS drivers that are delayed for 1 hour or more at a bulk stop delivery, and contract language that ensures the compensation an OFS driver earns from bulk deliveries will not be counted towards his or her DMR pay.
“This Union is not in the business of leaving members behind,” added Coli. “With this contract, we have made sure all of our hardworking GLCCD members receive what they deserve.”
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 grievance. The union does not forfeit its right to make any and all supplemental arguments.
