Bargaining Update: SCI Funeral Members
Local 727 Continues to Fight for the Rights of SCI Members as Contract Negotiations Resume
After four previous bargaining sessions, Teamsters Local 727 and Service Corporation International resumed contract negotiations on Nov. 21-22.
SCI management continued to propose many changes that would diminish Teamster members’ rights, such as weakened grievance and arbitration procedures, elimination of the Legal and Educational Assistance Benefit, funeral home divesture language that would cause employees to lose their jobs at locations no longer operated by SCI, and a dramatic expansion to management’s rights.
“We have paid out almost $100,000 in legal and education benefits in last three years on behalf of SCI members,” said John Coli Jr., President of Local 727. “Our goal is to protect the interests of our SCI members. Now that many of these employees have children that are ready to go to college and are expecting a highly supportive education benefit, we don’t want to have the rug pulled out from under them.”
SCI’s lengthy regressive proposals are reminiscent of what the union saw in the Alderwoods negotiations. These previous proposals were rejected by the union then and will continue to be rejected by the union going forward.
The newly ratified Alderwoods contract is proof of the reasonable compromises the union reached across the table with the employer.
“SCI is asking for so many sacrifices from our members without offering a single olive branch to improve their working conditions,” Coli said. “As we have for years, Local 727 will continue to stand up to SCI management to fight for the rights of our members.”
Local 727 proposed dates to continue negotiations in December, but SCI management said they will be unavailable. The union and SCI representatives agreed to return to the bargaining table on Jan. 5-6 and 12-13, 2017.
Teamster members will continue to receive updates as negotiations progress.
Any SCI members with questions should contact Local 727 Business Agent Nick Micaletti at (847) 696-7500 or [email protected].
Category: FUNERAL, SCI/Alderwoods, Union News
