Negotiations Resume for Reyes Mechanics’ First Teamster CBA, Multiple Tentative Agreements Reached on Day 2
Negotiations for the first collective bargaining agreement covering newly organized mechanics resumed today between Teamsters Local 727 and Reyes Fleet Management, a subsidiary of Reyes Holdings, LLC. While bargaining progressed slowly, the parties were successfully able to reach tentative agreements on a number of non-economic matters.
The Local 727 bargaining committee opened the day’s negotiations by presenting the Company with a comprehensive counterproposal and stressing to Reyes representatives the importance of clear seniority and overtime rules. As a result of the Union bargaining committee’s persistence, Local 727 was able to secure a tentative agreement on the inclusion of contract language regarding seniority.
The Union was also successful in negotiating a tentative agreement on contract provisions related to Union stewards. Under the tentatively agreed contract language, a Union steward’s presence will be required for all disciplinary meetings regardless of a worker’s invocation of his or her Weingarten rights.
“It’s understandable that you may become flustered when you walk into a disciplinary meeting—that’s why having a Union steward present is important. By being in the room, a Union steward is able to better protect their fellow workers from coercion or intimidation,” said Caleen Carter-Patton, Local 727 lead business agent for Reyes mechanics. “Today, Local 727 has secured a tentative agreement that guarantees you will have a fellow Union member there to back you up whether or not you remember to recite your Weingarten rights in that moment. This is a significant step toward ensuring our members’ rights cannot be violated.”
The Union bargaining committee concluded today’s bargaining session by requesting Reyes management come prepared with an economic proposal to the parties’ next meeting on Thursday, August 22.
“On our first day of bargaining, Local 727 made it clear that fair wages and health care improvements were a top priority for Reyes mechanics,” added Carter-Patton. “We are eager to begin negotiating over economics and look forward to using the momentum generated in our first two meetings to secure the substantial wage increases and health care fixes these workers so rightfully deserve.”
Anyone 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 grievance(s), or as a waiver of any rights, arguments, or defenses under any contract, collective bargaining agreement, or applicable law. The union does not forfeit its right to make any and all supplemental arguments.