When the company's chief negotiator announces that he's there to conduct hard bargaining before negotiations even begin, you know you're in for a rough time.
The Aramark corporate human resources manager who made that declaration to the UE Local 1121 bargaining committee backed it up with horrible proposals. The company wanted a five-year contract with two-tier wages, no time-and-a-half pay after eight hours, and one-quarter of the workforce to be temps. The company also came after union leave, healthcare, vacation and incentive pay rates.
The company's chief negotiator was arrogant, says Local 1121 President Charlene Winchell. We'd be an hour into bargaining and he'd call it quits - 'OK, we're done' - just throw a tantrum.
But Local 1121 members also know how to give their adversaries a hard time. Union members organized union T-shirt days in the plant, made pins and stickers with anti-concession slogans, and put big signs with union messages on their cars in the plant parking lot. They even painted pro-union messages on the outside of their cars with washable paint. Members gathered outside the plant for rallies. We've never been so close to going on strike, says Winchell. People were ready to do it if we needed to.
Union members fought hard to beat back the worst of the company's proposals. Even trying to get a three-year contract was a fight, said Winchell, with the company insisting on four or five years. We had to fight that battle to the end. Another thing we fought to the end was overtime after eight. The company only wanted to pay overtime premium pay after 40 hours of work.
Bargaining started April 12 with an April 25 expiration date, and was extended for one month. The settlement ratified on May 24 was a three-year contract with 25 cent wage increase each year. Healthcare deductible and co-pays are increased, but employee contributions stay about the same. Employees will have to make weekly contributions to their dental coverage, $1.33 single, $3.71 family. Weekly sickness and accident pay increases by $20 in the first and third years, and life insurance increases in the third year.
The Local 1121 bargaining committee included Charlene Winchell, Chief Steward Sue Scheck, and Stewards Tina Wurm, Vicky Thao and Derek Martine. They were assisted by UE Field Organizer Lynn Swiertz.