Dr Pepper’s Health Care Sale Makes Us Sick

Teamsters Local 727 opened this morning’s bargaining session with the American Bottling Company, a subsidiary of Keurig Dr Pepper, by inviting a Local 727 Benefit Funds Representative into the negotiations to give a comprehensive presentation on the Union’s health care proposal.

Management’s loaded questions following the presentation gave the impression that Dr Pepper mistakenly believes its health care proposal, which includes the elimination of the current PPO health care plan and the introduction of a new HSA plan with higher premiums than the current HSA plan, is somehow superior to Local 727’s own proposed 100% employer-paid Union PPO health care plan.

“According to the Company, all but 9 Dr Pepper members currently participate in the Company’s PPO plan.  Proposing to eliminate a PPO plan entirely and replace it with a new higher-deductible HSA plan is absurd and, frankly, makes us sick,” said John Coli, Jr. Secretary-Treasurer of Local 727.  “One glance is all it takes to see that the Company’s plan doesn’t even come close to the Union’s health care offerings.  No matter how hard Dr Pepper tries to sell it, our members won’t buy their lies.”

Below are summary charts comparing the costs and coverage associated with Local 727’s and Keurig Dr Pepper’s health care plans:

Local 727 will provide members with further bargaining updates after negotiations resume this afternoon.

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 additional grievance. The union does not forfeit its right to make any and all supplemental arguments.

Category: BEVERAGE