Members to Receive Substantial Retro Pay, New Contributions to Company 401(k)

Twenty-one Teamsters Local 710 members at Heritage Wine unanimously ratified a five-year agreement on July 9. The drivers and warehouse workers are a part of the local cartage agreement with an addendum containing additional articles that the Local 710 Bargaining Committee fought hard to secure.

Teamsters will receive hourly wage increases of 50 cents in each year of the agreement, which is retroactive to April 1, 2013. As a result, each member employed since that time will receive substantial back pay totaling $6,240.

As a new benefit upon ratification, Heritage Wine will make weekly contributions to each member’s 401(k) plan with the company. This is in addition to the weekly contributions the employer continues to make to each member’s pension with the Chicago Truck Drivers Union (CTDU).

“The Bargaining Committee led by Teamster steward Joe Darrow did a phenomenal job at the table,” said Aisha Hurston, Local 710 Business Agent. “They stood together to ratify a strong agreement with great benefits for our members, particularly the well-deserved retro pay.”

Members also will receive an additional personal day each year and overtime pay on a daily basis. The Local 710-represented drivers and warehouse workers handle the delivery of wine products out of the Heritage Wine distribution center in Niles, Ill.

Teamsters Local 710 is an affiliate of Teamsters Joint Council 25, America’s premier labor union for Chicago, Illinois and northwest Indiana.