Four years into a contract negotiation hindered by CVS’s delay tactics, bad faith bargaining, direct dealing, interrogation, and anti-union sentiment, several members of CVS’ Labor Relations department recently contacted Local 727 and asked “how can we fix this adversarial relationship?” The Union answered in simple terms – “negotiate.”
CVS employees Jean Frazier (Vice President, Labor Relations), Rob Francin (Senior Director, Employee & Labor Relations), Derek Vitatoe (Human Resources Senior Director), and Pricilla Burau (Employee Relations), all members of CVS’ bargaining committee (with the exception of Francin) initiated the call to the Union. Seeming to ignore their behavior over the past four years, CVS asked how the parties could improve its relationship with Local 727 to be more “collaborative and harmonious.” CVS complained about the Union’s “constant demands to bargain” over every policy or operational change they initiate, along with the “barrage” of information requests and labor board charges filed against CVS over the past year. CVS also stated that the company’s relationship with Local 727 is allegedly markedly different than the company’s relationships with other, perhaps more submissive, labor unions.
Local 727, a Union that sets itself apart from other Unions by its unflinching commitment to members, would like to take this opportunity to reiterate the message it relayed to CVS in response to their request: Local 727 will never stop fighting for its members! Local 727 will not be bullied or manipulated into sitting back or giving up while a company disrespects both its employees and the collective bargaining process. Local 727 will continue to represent the pharmacists as best as we are able and will continue to use any and all resources legally available to us. If CVS wants “harmony and collaboration”, then it needs to come back to the bargaining table and make meaningful movement.
CVS representatives admitted on the call that bargaining has been “tough,” yet had nothing more to say when Local 727 reminded them how time-and-time again the Union has made movement with nothing in response from the Company. 727 also reminded CVS that they have made no substantive changes since 2016. Finally, CVS must remove its outrageous wage proposals and proposals which seek to change the scope of the bargaining unit by essentially eliminating PICs. Although the Union asked for the Company to inform the Union when it was ready to make changes to its proposal and negotiate, the Company has provided no additional bargaining dates.
“CVS has no one to blame but themselves for the relationship that it broke by its anti-union rhetoric, member interrogation, direct dealing, unilateral changes, and insulting contract proposals. Time-and-time again, our bargaining committee has turned itself inside outside with CVS for hours with nothing in return from CVS. The Union has at no time acted improperly or outside of any legal boundaries. CVS should look in the mirror and ask if they can say the same,” said John Coli, Jr., Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 727.
Questions should be directed to Business Representative Melissa Senatore at (847) 696-7500 or to [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.
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