Union & Pepsi Make Progress on Day 2 of Negotiations, Reach First Tentative Agreements
Teamsters Local 727 and PepsiCo Beverages North America reconvened today to continue negotiations for a successor collective bargaining agreement covering all members employed at the Company’s Chicago, Elk Grove, and Kankakee facilities.
When the parties first met last month, the Union bargaining committee presented Pepsi representatives with a comprehensive contract proposal that included substantial annual wage raises, pension improvements, and improved seniority language, as well as a number of additional proposals that addressed a multitude of concerns raised recently by Pepsi members. During today’s bargaining session, the parties focused their attention and worked to address several of these proposals.
Among the items discussed today were the Union’s proposals regarding D-Bay driver helpers, limiting the length of time a Blue Card employee may work before being promoted to full-time, and Local 727’s proposals regarding employee training. While the Union bargaining committee’s fight for more frequent assistance for drivers and a shorter limit on Blue Cards will continue, Local 727 was successfully able to secure a tentative agreement on CDL training.
The Union bargaining committee and Pepsi management have tentatively agreed to new contract language that will require the Company to offer CDL training to interested employees twice each year. The parties have also tentatively agree that, while an employee is training, s/he will be excused from his/her regular shift but continue to receive his/her full hourly rate, including any premiums s/he may normally receive.
In addition to tentatively agreeing on new CDL training language, the Union bargaining committee was also able to secure six additional TAs on a number of minor contract proposals.
“While it will take some time to work through our many proposals, we made some good progress today,” said John Coli, Jr., Secretary-Treasurer of Local 727. “The entire Local 727 bargaining committee is hopeful that this momentum will carry into negotiations tomorrow and we will be able to address several of the concerns our members raised on their contract demand sheets.”
Local 727 and Pepsi management will meet again to continue bargaining over a new contract tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. The Union will update members following tomorrow’s bargaining session.
Members with questions should contact Local 727 Lead Business Representative Zach Frankenbach at (847) 696-7500 or [email protected] or Local 727 Business Representatives Mike DeGard 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(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.
