Vitalant Members Overwhelmingly Ratify CBA with Near Decade-High Wage Raise

On Wednesday, September 11, Teamsters Local 727 members employed as distribution drivers and Mobile Unit Assistants by Vitalant overwhelmingly ratified a new three-year collective bargaining agreement.  Among the top achievements of the Union bargaining committee was the successful negotiation of a successor contract that contains the highest wage increase for Vitalant drivers in nearly a decade.

In addition to significant raises, Vitalant drivers and MUAs’ contract now outlines the terms of several employee benefits that had previously been dictated solely by corporate policy.  Among the benefit terms now detailed in the contract are those related to leaves of absence, paid time off, and wage differentials—specifically shift, mobile, and weekend premiums.  Since the Union bargaining committee was successfully able to negotiate the inclusion of these benefits in the new CBA, Local 727 will now be able to enforce their terms through the grievance and arbitration process.

In addition to securing their inclusion in the successor agreement, Local 727 was also able to negotiate improvements to employees’ shift premiums.  Under the new CBA, the hours during which an employee will receive a second-shift premium of 8% has been restored to those hours worked between 2 p.m. and 10 p.m.  In turn, the hours during which a 13% overnight premium applies has been expanded to include those hours worked between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Under the newly ratified CBA, Vitalant members will also be able to participate in the Company’s Education Assistance Program, which offers tuition reimbursement to eligible employees.  Additionally, the successor agreement introduces a new minimum wage guarantee of three hours of pay for all MUAs that are called into work outside of their normally scheduled shift, regardless of the hours he or she actually works.

The new CBA also includes new contract language that requires Vitalant to notify and meet to discuss the use of new technologies, including GPS, vehicle monitoring systems, dashboard cameras or other similar technology, with the Union prior to its installation.  The new contract language also allows Local 727 to grieve the reasonableness of the proposed technology and, if the Union and Vitalant management are unable to reach an agreement, Local 727 will have the ability to submit the matter for arbitration.  While an arbitrator is deciding the matter, Vitalant is prohibited from installing the disputed technology.

“The Local 727 bargaining committee is proud to have been able to secure such a strong, rich contract for our members,” said Nick Micaletti, Local 727 Business Representative for Vitalant workers.  “We look forward to continuing to fight on behalf of our Vitalant Brothers and Sisters.”

Members with questions should contact Local 727 Business Representative Nick Micaletti 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 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.

Category: Vitalant