Union Challenges Violation of Osco Settlement Agreement
Late last year, Teamsters Local 727 filed a grievance against Osco after learning pharmacy students were being misclassified and paid by Osco as technicians despite the student’s enrollment in pharmacy school.
In response to the Union’s willingness to pursue the matter through arbitration, Osco agreed 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.”
Local 727 recently learned that Osco has informed affected technicians that they must participate in an interview with management before their status is changed and they receive the “pharmacy student” wage rate.
The Union immediately contacted Osco after being notified of this Company-fabricated additional requirement. The settlement does not require technicians to participate in an interview and instead all affected employees should have their status and wages immediately adjusted regardless of whether they agreed to interview or not.
According to the agreement signed by Osco, ‘wages, benefits, and other terms and conditions of employment set forth in the Local 727 contract shall apply to the Affected Employee as of the Sunday immediately following the date the Company was so notified…”
“This Union will not stand idly by and allow Osco, or any other employer, to concoct their own additional terms to any agreement,” insisted John Coli, Jr., Secretary-Treasurer of Local 727. “These hardworking students deserve to be paid fairly. They shouldn’t have to jump through hoops because Osco has them incorrectly classified.”
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!
Any members with questions 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.
