CVS Wastes Time, Refuses to Make Movement in Latest Round of Mediation
The Teamsters Local 727 Bargaining Committee and CVS management continued negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, May 23, 2017. The union wasted no time in expressing its willingness to reach a deal; however, CVS delayed in responding to the federal mediator’s supposal, which, if accepted by CVS, would signify huge movement from the union. Although CVS took five hours to respond, management offered no movement.
This marks the third session with the federal mediator with management standing firm on its November 2016 proposal, which includes a 1.8% wage increase with no retro pay. As a result of taking nearly the entire day, CVS management gave the union no time to even consider its absurd response and instead abruptly ended the session claiming they had to catch a flight back home.
“It’s obvious CVS didn’t want meaningful negotiations to occur,” said John Coli, Jr., President of Local 727. “CVS management took five hours to do nothing. They simply wanted to run out the clock.”
The only new proposal CVS management made was to suggest that the parties reopen and renegotiate the contract if new work standard legislation becomes law.
“It took the company six months between meetings and nearly a full day to ultimately move backward,” said Coli. “This is yet another slap in the face and yet another example of management showing that they don’t care about pharmacists’ concerns. Yet it also clearly shows CVS’ concern over the union’s recent successful efforts and support from Illinois lawmakers.”
Over the last several weeks, Local 727 representatives and CVS stewards have reached out to pharmacists for their input. Time and again, CVS pharmacists expressed disgust over the company’s contract proposal, which still includes radical concessions such as mandatory 12-hour shifts, forcing pharmacists to perform work on uncompensated time and meager wage increases.
“CVS maintains it wants to ‘reach a deal’ and yet its actions do not track with these empty words and sentiments,” Coli said. “Pharmacists are telling the Local 727 Bargaining Committee to keep fighting for the issues that matter most to them, so that’s what we are doing and will continue to do.”
The union offered to meet with CVS for negotiations on June 12th (a date CVS rejected). No new date has been scheduled, but the parties will be reaching out to the mediator to schedule additional dates.
If you have questions, contact your Local 727 business representative, Melissa Senatore, at (847) 696-7500 or [email protected].
