Local 727 Secures Tentative Agreement with FDSA, Avoids Wage Freeze
After countless hours and several rounds of negotiations, Teamsters Local 727 has secured a tentative agreement with Funeral Directors Service Association of Greater Chicago (FDSA).
Throughout negotiations and up to and including the last day, FDSA insisted on including a wage freeze in year 1 of a five-year agreement. FDSA also expressed its unwillingness to pay the increased cost of health care premiums required for members to maintain the 727 benefits that they have worked so hard to secure.
“We made it clear that a wage freeze was unacceptable to our membership and that maintenance of 727 benefits was of utmost importance,” said John Coli, Jr., Secretary-Treasurer of Local 727. “The union was successful in its efforts and was able to work productively with FDSA to ultimately reach tentative agreement.”
The tentative five-year agreement includes the following provisions:
- Maintenance of 727 health insurance, pension and legal and educational assistance (which is an overall 39% increase)
- Overall 8% wage increases
- Years 1 and 2, a 1% increase
- Years 3-5, a 2% increase
- $850 bonus in year 5
- Trade embalming rates increased to $510 in year 4 of the contract, and to $525 in year 5
- Ship-in rate is to be 50% of the trade embalmer rate (which is a 150% increase in year 1)
- Trade director rate increase to $250
- Going forward, vacation allotment is to be determined by years of service in the industry regardless of a change in work location (‘your vacation goes with you’)
“I’m proud of our bargaining committee for standing strong, staying committed, and speaking up during negotiations,” Coli said. “
Members with questions should contact Business Representative Zach Frankenbach at (847) 696-7500 or [email protected].
