First Transit DuPage Drivers Stand Strong for Contract
First Transit DuPage steward Denna Carroll
Local 727 Members Secure New Agreement After Rejecting Company’s First Offer
Teamsters Local 727-represented paratransit drivers at First Transit DuPage on Jan. 26 ratified a new contract that includes wage increases, job protections and many other economic and non-economic improvements.
The Local 727 Bargaining Committee and the company returned to the bargaining table after the 27 members unanimously rejected First Transit’s previous offer in November.
“Because our members stood together and made their voices heard, we were able to secure a better contract,” said John Coli Jr., President of Local 727. “There is power in unity, and our members demonstrated that power.”
Last year, First Transit assumed operations of the facility from MV Transportation, and the new contract recognizes members’ MV Transportation seniority for vacation time and provides retention bonuses for all former MV Transportation employees.
In addition to annual raises, important job protections and stable health care costs, the contract also includes more paid time off, an improved bidding procedure, improved break/lunch language, longer paid pre-trip periods, pay check protections and picket line protections.
The new contract expires July 31, 2017.
“We’ll be back at the bargaining table in 18 months, so we can keep working to make our contract stronger,” said First Transit DuPage steward Denna Carroll, who was a member of the Local 727 Bargaining Committee. “Without the union, our wages and benefits wouldn’t be what they are today.”
Teamsters Local 727 represents more than 1,100 paratransit drivers, dispatchers, schedulers, call-takers, customer service representatives and mechanics throughout the Chicago area.
Category: PARATRANSIT, Union News
