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It’s been over a year since Teamsters Local 50 began negotiating the contract of the union members of Illinois Distributing Company. This process began with a list of contractual DEMANDS from Illinois Distributing Company. The elimination of a 40 hour work week, elimination of overtime pay, new pay structures that would result in anywhere from 20% to 30% reduction in pay, change from the unions health plan to an inferior company plan and a significant reduction in retirement benefits were only a FEW of the things that this company was DEMANDING rather than negotiating. They basically wanted to rewrite the entire contract.
Even in light of the company’s unreasonable demands the union and employees continued to make every sincere attempt during several meetings to come to some kind of agreement with the company including concessions on most issues in an effort to appease Illinois Distributing. All of the union’s counteroffers were rejected by the company and they in turn only improved their offer by pennies in most cases and insisted on the majority of their other demands. Illinois Distributing Company has now submitted their final offer which was their initial offer taking back even the few pennies…..
This is where we stand today, the company insisting on their outrageous and insulting demands. This is a company that is VERY profitable by their own admission and is in no way in any kind of financial situation that would justify such actions. The union employees on the other hand want only to keep their jobs and would most likely unanimously ratify a 3 year pay freeze contract. Now what profitable, rational company would NOT be thrilled by such an offer? It’s an understatement to say that Illinois Distributing is “not thrilled” by such a prospect. Since the company’s actions and behavior is not financially motivated (or so they say) it’s only reasonable to speculate that it is their desire to completely eliminate the union from their business in much the way the Lohr’s have done with their business in the city of St. Louis
If that IS their intent how despicable is it to discard so many hard working, loyal employees (many of which have worked there in excess of 25 years) like a used wash cloth? Is this the type of business’s we want in our community? Is this the direction the city of Belleville is to take? For the sake of the 36 union employees of Illinois Distributing company and the employees of all the other business’s that may follow suit lets hope not.
If IDC thought they could easily intimidate, threaten and coerce the union members by these actions and divide them they were DEAD WRONG! In fact these shameful actions have served as a catalyst to strengthen and unite their ranks in a common belief that they deserve to be treated FAIRLY! The union employees of Illinois Distributing Company DID NOT initiate this conflict nor do they deserve such treatment. The responsibility for these shameful actions rests squarely with the owners and management of IDC.
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