Local 727 Secures Tentative Agreement with CDT that Enhances and Streamlines the Grievance Procedure

Teamsters Local 727 and Cook DuPage Transportation, Inc., a subsidiary of National Express, met Monday, October 22^nd and Tuesday, October 23^rd to continue negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement.  The current CBA covering paratransit drivers, porters, dispatchers, recon, and customer service representatives expires on October 31^st.

During the latest negotiating sessions, the Union bargaining committee successfully secured a tentative agreement on an enhanced grievance procedure.  The new tentative agreement seeks to resolve current issues by imposing stricter deadlines on the processing of grievances by CDT and introducing mediation as an option during the grievance procedure.

While Local 727 presented its economic proposals on day one of negotiations, CDT waited until this week—just ten days prior to the CBA’s expiration—to present any portion of its own economic package.

On Tuesday, Company representatives came to the bargaining table with information on employee benefits but offered no wage proposal.  CDT blamed its lack of proposal on Pace, claiming a proposal could not be produced until Pace informs the Company of the terms of its extended contract.  CDT informed the Union that it expects to receive word from Pace prior to the next bargaining session.

“The bargaining committee made it clear to CDT that we cannot provide a reasonable response to their offered economic package until we see their proposed wages,” stated John Coli Jr., Secretary-Treasurer of Local 727.  “This Union refuses to negotiate such important provisions in a piecemeal manner.”

At the moment, the transportation industry as a whole is struggling to find and retain qualified drivers.  First Transit, Inc. and MV Transportation, Inc. have both drastically raised wages in recent contracts to improve employee retention.

“The Union bargaining committee expects CDT to treat its hardworking employees in the same fair manner as other paratransit operators,” added Secretary-Treasurer Coli.  “We look forward to receiving CDT’s full economic package proposal at our next meeting.”

While the Union and CDT have reached tentative agreements on most noneconomic issues, the parties will continue to discuss the details of the light duty program, as well as outstanding economic proposals, when they reconvene negotiations at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, October 30^th.

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: PARATRANSIT