Teamsters stand strong at U.S. Foodservice; contract vote set

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.workdayminnesota.org/index.php?news_6_4841

7 April 2011

PLYMOUTH - Workers at Plymouth-based U.S. Foodservice appear to have weathered the company’s attempt to gut their health care insurance coverage, ending a standoff that prompted both sides to prepare for a work stoppage earlier this month.

About 275 U.S. Foodservice workers, members of Teamsters Local 120, are scheduled to vote April 10 on a contract offer from the company. The local would not comment on the terms of the offer, but said the unit’s elected negotiations committee had issued a recommendation that union members vote to accept the agreement.

Local 120 represents drivers, warehouse workers, mechanics, sanitation workers and office and clerical employees at the restaurant distributor.

On April 3, members of the bargaining unit voted to reject the company’s so-called “final” contract offer, authorizing their elected leaders to call a strike if future negotiations did not yield results.

Local 120 leaders say talks between the two sides initially broke down when U.S. Foodservice insisted union members pay up to 20 percent of their health care insurance premiums – a steep increase from the previous contract, which expired March 31.

Not only was U.S. Foodservice demanding its workers pay more for their health insurance, the company wanted to gut the insurance plan as well, according to Local 120’s Bryan Rademacher.


FULL story at link.