EDITOR'S NOTE: Thanks to James DeWeese for sending us this. We apologize for the late post but the story came while your editor and his wife was moving. Then they got COVID-19.
The Teamsters Local 89 contract unanimously ratified at American Printing House contains numerous improvements over previous contracts, including a new holiday.
Despite this contract being negotiated during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Local 89 bargaining committee was able to secure a new contract that contained no concessions, and included an economic package that exceeded all prior agreements at APH.
Some of the economic highlights of the contract include a reduction in healthcare costs, an early retirement option for members in the APH pension plan with measures taken to ensure the plan benefits remain fully funded, a new utility job classification with a higher pay rate, and vacation language that was increased and enhanced.
Another economic enhancement was the addition of "Juneteenth" as a holiday. For those unfamiliar, Juneteenth is a celebration of the end of slavery in America. This marks the first Local 89 collective bargaining agreement to successfully include Juneteenth as a holiday.
In addition, there were a number of significant language improvements including; reduced the amount of time a member can be temporarily assigned to a different job, stricter time limits on the Company for issuing discipline, shortened the amount of time the Company can conduct investigations for serious infractions, limited the time a member can be suspended via progressive discipline, stronger discharge language, added a 24 hour notice for scheduled overtime, added the ability to bump probationary employees in traditionally "non bumpable" classifications, and added the ability to use up to three vacation days to cover call ins.
These negotiations were chaired for the union by Business Agent Jay Dennis, and co-chaired by Business Agent Mac Moore. Rank-and-file members on the committee were Chief Steward Kathy Peak and stewards Russell Craft, Joseph Meek, and Deshann Mitchell.
"I'm very proud of our committee and all the members who came out to vote," said Business Agent Mac Moore. "This contract's a big step forward for them, and we can do even more down the road."
President Zuckerman, Secretary-Treasurer Thompson, the Officers, Agents, and Staff of Teamsters Local 89 wish to thank the members of the union negotiating committee for their hard work and dedication to their fellow members, and congratulate all the members at American Printing House on their new contract!