I am currently a Union Rep at Teamsters Local 67 in Washington DC. We represent Brewery and Beverage Drivers along with vending companies. Our current contract with Canteen Vending expired on October 12th, 2009. After a number of negotiation meetings the company gave a final offer and this past Saturday we presented it to the membership. The company gave a couple options but neither was worth recommending to the members. Basically, they are trying to reduce the cost of health benefits by placing some of that cost on the members. Along with that they want to freeze the drivers commission rate for a minimum of 2 years. Being that the recession has not affected Canteen in any significant manner in the DC marketplace we felt this kind of proposal from them was unsatisfactory. The company continues to put more and more demands on the drivers and then turns around and offers no increases.
By law we had to present the final offer to the members. So on Saturday we did and they unanimously voted to reject the companies offer. This vote gives us the leverage to call a strike if needed. We are preparing to go back to the table and reenter the negotiations. Maybe then the company will make us a fairer offer.
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