Post by Admin on Jul 14, 2019 6:11:06 GMT -5
After over 25 hours of negotiations with the Company in the past 48 hours (which included 15 straight hours starting on noon Saturday and ending at 3am Sunday morning), the Union Committee is sad to announce that talks have stalled on the last day of the current six year agreement between Wegmans Food Markets and Teamsters Local 118.
The Committee agreed to language changes on over 23 of the Articles in the current contract and have attempted to address many of the issues facing our members. We believe the Committee has made significant strides to improve seniority rules, job selection rules, increased/improved vacation availability, a more fair use of part-timers that will reduce the forcing full-timers and more.
Unfortunately, the Company’s wage package does not meet the standards and levels expected from the Teamsters and the final wage package for Skilled Trades does not even come close to matching the percentages being offered to the Warehouse and Driving employees. In addition, a number of issues remain unresolved, including the inability of drivers to select overtime before part-timers and the loss of job protections, jobs and wages in skilled trades.
The Union Committee gave the Company a counter to their latest wage package that would offer the same percentage increase for all Teamsters at Wegmans. We have made it clear that we are resolved to addressing forcing, the increased use and hiring of part-timers over full-timers, the refusal to force part-timers and the commitment to protect our Skilled Trades workers.
With the expiration of the contract set for midnight Sunday night on July 14th, Teamsters Local 118 remains ready and hopeful to resume talks with the Company. It is our intent to secure a fair wage that continues the Teamster tradition of securing the very best wages and benefits for our members…. A fitting tribute for workers at the #1 company in the US (according to the Director of Distribution for Wegmans and a statement that Teamsters Local 118 agrees 100% with)
We will continue to keep everyone posted. It is our hope the Company will amend their last position. Should we be successful in resolving our final differences in short order, Teamsters Local 118 is prepared to put together a comprehensive package that will explain all of the agreed to changes. This package will be mailed to every active member and the Committee will begin the process of holding review meetings for all departments to explain the changes before conducting a secret ballot vote at a time, place and method to be determined.
Thank you, Chris Toole
The Committee agreed to language changes on over 23 of the Articles in the current contract and have attempted to address many of the issues facing our members. We believe the Committee has made significant strides to improve seniority rules, job selection rules, increased/improved vacation availability, a more fair use of part-timers that will reduce the forcing full-timers and more.
Unfortunately, the Company’s wage package does not meet the standards and levels expected from the Teamsters and the final wage package for Skilled Trades does not even come close to matching the percentages being offered to the Warehouse and Driving employees. In addition, a number of issues remain unresolved, including the inability of drivers to select overtime before part-timers and the loss of job protections, jobs and wages in skilled trades.
The Union Committee gave the Company a counter to their latest wage package that would offer the same percentage increase for all Teamsters at Wegmans. We have made it clear that we are resolved to addressing forcing, the increased use and hiring of part-timers over full-timers, the refusal to force part-timers and the commitment to protect our Skilled Trades workers.
With the expiration of the contract set for midnight Sunday night on July 14th, Teamsters Local 118 remains ready and hopeful to resume talks with the Company. It is our intent to secure a fair wage that continues the Teamster tradition of securing the very best wages and benefits for our members…. A fitting tribute for workers at the #1 company in the US (according to the Director of Distribution for Wegmans and a statement that Teamsters Local 118 agrees 100% with)
We will continue to keep everyone posted. It is our hope the Company will amend their last position. Should we be successful in resolving our final differences in short order, Teamsters Local 118 is prepared to put together a comprehensive package that will explain all of the agreed to changes. This package will be mailed to every active member and the Committee will begin the process of holding review meetings for all departments to explain the changes before conducting a secret ballot vote at a time, place and method to be determined.
Thank you, Chris Toole