Teamsters Local 710 Secures Wage Increases, Entrance into Union Health Plan
The Teamsters Local 710 Bargaining Committee for the newly organized warehouse members at Ferguson reached a tentative agreement on August 22. The employer presented a last, best and final offer that the committee will recommend to the membership. This will be the first contract for the warehouse.
The three-year agreement includes moving out of the employer-sponsored health plans that held high contribution rates for employees. Members will now benefit by moving into the CTDU health plan at no cost to them. The union plan is a Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO that is superior to any plans offered by Ferguson.
“The bargaining committee refused to back down at the table to secure this benefit for the members, and the significant cost savings they’ll all see on their paychecks will be really helpful.”
“Movement into a union health plan is something very difficult to negotiate into a first contract,” said Bernie Sherlock, Local 710 Business Agent. “The bargaining committee refused to back down at the table to secure this benefit for the members, and the significant cost savings they’ll all see on their paychecks will be really helpful.”
Members will also receive wage increases of 30 cents per hour upon ratification and 50 cents per hour in both years two and three, less any potential increases to the health plan in years two and three only. These benefits come alongside many additional benefits of now being under a union contract including having a grievance procedure and defined seniority rights.
“We’re definitely ready to vote in our first union contract,” said Tomas Quinones, Local 710 Bargaining Committee member. “I’m especially happy to start getting good health care at no cost to me.”
Negotiations for the warehouse contract were overall very efficient and moved along at an impressive pace. First contracts can often take up to a year to organize and negotiate, but Local 710 was able to secure a tentative agreement in less than half that time with only two months of bargaining.
“We’re proud of the diligence taken during these negotiations to ensure that members can start enjoying the benefits of a Teamster contract as soon as possible,” said John T. Coli, Trustee of Local 710 and President of Teamsters Joint Council 25.
The new bargaining unit consists of 29 warehouse employees who work alongside Local 710 drivers to handle the distribution and fabrication of plumbing supplies for the greater Chicagoland area.
The contract vote will take place on September 16. Copies of the complete tentative agreement will be provided to members the week following Labor Day, and the union will hold meeting to review it ahead of the contract vote. Questions may be directed to committee members Tomas Quinones and Tommy Reith or Local 710 Business Agent Bernie Sherlock at (773) 254-3200.
Teamsters Local 710 is an affiliate of Teamsters Joint Council 25, America’s premier labor union for Chicago, Illinois and northwest Indiana.