GLCCD Admits it Provided Incorrect Health Care Costs just Days after Harshly Criticizing the Union for a Similar Minor Error
When the Teamsters Local 727 bargaining committee and Great Lakes Coca-Cola Distribution, Inc., a subsidiary of Reyes Holdings, sat down to continue negotiations last Friday, the Company opened negotiations by gleefully pointing out a minor error in the Union’s calculation of the percent increase in employee health care premiums from the previous bargaining session. GLCCD representatives harshly criticized Local 727 for the minor error and happily reported that health care premiums had not tripled over the life of the contract as the Union had suggested—they had merely doubled.
While GLCCD attempted to convince the Union bargaining committee that a doubling in health care premiums was not so terrible, Local 727 held firm. The Union reiterated GLCCD employee’s concerns over high deductibles, large out-of-pocket costs, and inadequate coverage, and emphasized to GLCCD that a doubling in health care premiums over the term of the last contract was far too much.
GLCCD then returned to the bargaining table with a package economic offer that included a promise to introduce a new PPO health care plan. The Company later sent the Union a listing of employee contribution rates for the proposed PPO plan. After several days, GLCCD then informed the Union that all of the costs provided were incorrect.
“It’s ironic that almost immediately after criticizing the Union, GLCCD should have its own ‘number error,’” said John Coli, Jr., Secretary-Treasurer of Local 727. “If GLCCD were to focus half as much energy on these negotiations as it has on finding the Union’s one minor slip and trumpeting fake news, perhaps we would be closer to reaching an agreement.”
The parties are scheduled to reconvene negotiations on Tuesday, April 9th. The current collective bargaining agreements covering GLCCD employees are set to expire on April 30th.
Members with questions should contact Local 727 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.
