GLCCD Attempts to Defend Awful Health Care by Accusing Union of Cherry-Picking
Teamsters Local 727 opened this morning’s bargaining session with Great Lakes Coca-Cola Distribution, Inc., a subsidiary of Reyes Holdings, by presenting a comprehensive proposal and again stressing the need for major changes to health care. Local 727 explained to the Company that GLCCD’s share of health care premium costs has decreased over the life of the last contract in many instances. As a result, the responsibility for health care costs has been shifted onto hardworking employees.
GLCCD once again attempted to defend its poor health care offerings by ignoring the critical issues brought to light by Local 727, alleging the Union had encountered more “calculation errors,” and accusing Local 727 of cherry-picking. As part of their defense, GLCCD argued over decimal points and themselves cherry-picked instances in which the Company claimed its own calculations showed less of a decrease in costs covered.
“This is yet another instance of GLCCD dismissing its employees concerns and attempting to sugarcoat critical health care issues,” said John Coli, Jr., Secretary-Treasurer of Local 727. “No matter which way you look at it, it’s the same problem overall—employees are required to pay more and more every year for health care. GLCCD cannot ignore the hard facts. The rise in health care costs is a serious matter and must be fixed now.”
The Local 727 bargaining committee resubmitted its proposal to include all GLCCD workers in the 100% employer-funded Union health care plan at no cost to employees, which also includes 90-10 coverage for employees who participate in the wellness program.
“These sky-high health care costs must be addressed. Without a real fix to health care, I don’t see how we can reach a new agreement anytime soon,” added. Coli.
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.
