Osco Misclassification of Pharmacy Students to be Remedied Thanks to Union Settlement
Teamsters Local 727 filed a grievance earlier this year when the Union was informed by a pharmacist that one of the pharmacy students working in the store was being misclassified and paid by Osco as a technician despite the student’s enrollment in pharmacy school.
Immediately upon learning of this glaring misclassification, Local 727 filed a grievance demanding that all pharmacy students enrolled in their 3rd year of pharmacy school and beyond be covered by the CBA. When Osco denied the Union’s grievance, Local 727 escalated the grievance to arbitration.
As a result of Local 727’s determination and readiness to present the matter for arbitration, Osco has agreed to resolve the issue. According to the settlement agreement, “Pharmacy Technicians who are also Pharmacy Students enrolled in a 3rd year of pharmacy school (in their first professional year of pharmacy school) or beyond (‘the Affected Employees’), fall within Article 1, the Recognition Clause, of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, and are therefore members of the Teamsters Local 727 Bargaining Unit.”
Additionally, the agreement states that, “Affected Employees shall become members of the Teamsters Local 727 Bargaining Unit on the date the Company is notified in writing by the Union or employee and provided a copy of the pharmacy student’s transcript that the Affected Employee is a Pharmacy student enrolled in his or her 3rd year of pharmacy school or beyond.”
Osco pharmacists, do you have a technician and/or pharmacy student enrolled in their third year of school or beyond working in your pharmacy? Reach out to Local 727 and let us know today!
Also according to the agreement, “wages, benefits, and other terms and conditions of employment” stated in the CBA shall take affect the Sunday immediately following Osco’s notification of an affected employee’s enrollment in pharmacy school. As such, Local 727 STRONGLY encourages all pharmacists who work with a pharmacy student in their first professional year of pharmacy school or beyond to reach out to the Union so we may confirm all affected employees receive their proper benefits. The sooner a pharmacy student notifies Osco of his or her enrollment, the sooner he or she will be paid the correct “pharmacy student” wage rate as specified in the CBA.
“Because one pharmacist spoke up, an untold number of our hardworking Teamster Brothers and Sisters will receive the pay and benefits they so rightly deserve,” said John Coli, Jr., Secretary-Treasurer of Local 727. “The strength of our collective bargaining agreements come from the power we wield as a united front. I encourage all Local 727 members to remain vigilant on the job, reach out to your Union representatives with questions, and report discrepancies in your workplaces.”
Any members with questions, or who would like to discuss issues they are experiencing, should contact Local 727 Osco Business Representative Zach Frankenbach 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.
