Union Ratifies New Contract with MV Chicago, Members to Receive Largest Wage Raise in Bargaining Unit History
Just two weeks after voting to authorize a strike, Teamsters Local 727 members employed by MV Transportation Chicago Division 135 overwhelmingly ratified the richest contract in bargaining unit history this past Saturday, October 6, 2018. The new three-year agreement covering paratransit drivers, dispatchers, schedulers, reservationists, and payroll clerks includes historic wage raises and a large increase in paid time off, as well as route scheduling improvements and enhancements in workplace protections.
Among the top achievements of the Local 727 bargaining committee was the successful negotiation of the largest wage increase in the unit’s history. Eligible members will not only be receiving wage raises retroactive to June 1, 2018, but will also receive a second wage raise effective October 1, 2018. Overall, the nearly 150 MV Chicago members will see their wages increasing a minimum of $1.50 and, dependent on the employee’s length of service, potentially as much as $3.25.
The Union’s new agreement also enhances employees’ PTO benefits. Firstly, members will now receive Martin Luther King, Jr. Day as a paid holiday. Secondly, effective January 1, 2019, all eligible full-time employees will receive, for the very first time, paid personal days each year. Lastly, beginning on April 1, 2019, Local 727 members at MV Chicago will no longer accrue vacation days each paycheck. Instead, employees will be receiving vacation days, as well as three additional sick days, upfront at the beginning of each anniversary year.
Local 727 has also successfully negotiated a new lunch break policy for all MV Chicago drivers and start time protections. The new lunch break policy requires the Company to schedule in drive-time at the end of drivers’ lunch breaks to account for the travel time needed to reach the next pick-up location. In addition, the CBA’s new bidding language prevents the Company from changing the actual start time of all employees with a scheduled start time between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m., as well as prevents the Company from changing any driver’s start and end time by more than an hour without the consent of the driver.
Local 727’s new agreement with MV Chicago also enhances members’ workplace protections. Should an employee be temporarily removed from service, the CBA requires the Company to offer the employee alternative work for the same or greater rate of pay and, if the investigation fails to prove any wrongdoing, MV must make the employee whole for all lost time.
“I am extremely proud of our MV Chicago members for staying strong and remaining united, even in the face of a potential strike” said Local 727 Secretary-Treasurer John Coli, Jr. “Because they stood together behind Local 727, the Union bargaining committee had the power it needed to negotiate the wealthiest contract in this bargaining unit’s history.”
Members with questions should contract Business Representative David Glass 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.
Category: PARATRANSIT
