Union Bargaining Committee Reprimands CDT for Increasing Health Care Costs During Latest Bargaining Session

During the parties’ latest bargaining session on Wednesday, November 13, the Teamsters Local 727 bargaining committee and representatives of Cook DuPage Transportation, Inc., a subsidiary of National Express, began negotiating over health care.  In addition to emphasizing that health care improvements are a top priority for members, the Union bargaining committee also spent time on Wednesday reprimanding CDT over increasing health care costs.

“CDT claimed bio-screenings would save the Company money and prevent increases in health care costs, so our members were very cooperative and did their screenings.  Now, just a year later, management has turned around and said health care premiums will be going up.  This is unacceptable,” said John Coli, Jr., Secretary-Treasurer of Local 727.

According to CDT, despite approximately 99% of employees complying with CDT’s bio-screening requirement, the Company has estimated that it will be increasing health care premiums by 5% in 2020.  To add insult to injury, the Company has not offered to introduce a cap on any future increases.

“Affordable, adequate health care is a necessity.  If CDT goes against its word and raises health care costs, how will its employees ever trust management again?” added Secretary-Treasurer Coli.

In addition to bargaining over health care, Local 727 and CDT also continued negotiations over outstanding non-economic proposals.  As of Wednesday, the parties have nearly completed non-economic negotiations; however, the Union bargaining committee continues to fight for a fair attendance policy and contract language that guarantees employees will get off work on time.

“It’s ridiculous and dangerous to keep people for two or three hours past their scheduled shift.  Exhausted drivers should not be forced to work,” said Secretary-Treasurer Coli.  “We must take action now to remedy this unsafe and unfair practice.”

Local 727 and CDT will continue bargaining over all outstanding contract proposals when negotiations resume on Tuesday, November 19.

Members with questions should contact Local 727 Business Representative Donnie Von Moore at (773) 403-1032 or [email protected].

Nothing in this article should be read as the union’s waiver of any legal argument, position or grievance(s), or as a waiver of any rights, arguments, or defenses under any contract, collective bargaining agreement, or applicable law. The union does not forfeit its right to make any and all supplemental arguments.

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