Arbitrator Orders Reliable Valet and River North Parking (Owned by Jack Kupiec) to Pay Over $400,000

Arbitrator Steven M. Bierig ordered Reliable Valet and its successor/alter ego River North Parking on September 11, 2017, to pay employees and Teamsters Local 727 three years’ worth of unpaid PTO, unremitted dues, penalties, and fees.

At the time of the arbitration hearing, River North Parking owed upwards of $267,000 in union dues and penalties. That’s in addition to the value of the paid time off benefits, sick/personal days and vacation days denied to Local 727 members, which totals more than $35,000.

According to the arbitrator’s April 8, 2018 decision, the Company violated the collective bargaining agreement by failing to remit Union dues since the Company’s inception in 2015. It also violated the contract by not paying the unused paid time off to employees when Reliable Valet allegedly closed.

“The Company’s blatant disregard for the contract resulted in our members being denied money, and the union fought tirelessly to remedy the problem,” said John Coli Jr., Secretary-Treasurer of Local 727. “The Company also entirely failed to remit dues and the Union will not let any company shirk its obligations under the CBA to remit and pay dues. Let this be a message to employers that this Union will not back down until justice is served.”

The Union has obtained similar victories against other parking/valet operators in recent years. PAS LLC, for example, was ordered in 2016 to pay back dues, penalties, and late fees totaling more than $225,000. In 2014, Chicago Parking Valet was ordered to pay employees, Local 727 and the Union Benefit Funds years’ worth of back pay, dues, and benefit contributions – an amount approximating $250,000. Local 727 filed enforcement actions against CPV and PAS LLC which are still pending.

In fact, CPV owner Julio Gonzalez was put into custody by a U.S. Marshal when he failed to respond to the enforcement action.

“We will keep fighting against these companies until they learn that they must honor the contract they signed,” Coli said.

Members with questions should contact Local 727 Business Representative Ben Rodriguez 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: PARKING