Wednesday, March 10th, 2010
Labor Dispute Ends at Distribution Center
A five-day labor dispute has been settled between a Teamsters’ local and the Philadelphia Regional Produce Market.
Teamsters local 929 president Rocky Bryan said his membership voted 106-30 in favor of the three-year package.
Workers will receive that double-time pay on Sundays until they move into the new, $218-million produce distribution center on Essington Avenue later this year.
On pay, the Teamsters members get a $500 bonus, no wage increase the first year, and 30-cents-per-hour increases in each of the next two years.
Last week, when the union voted 141-11 to walk, it was over management’s proposal to eliminate Sunday double-time pay and force worker contributions to the health plan.
Sonny DiCrecchio, executive director of the food distribution center in South Philadelphia, says that management compromised on health care since increases in the union plan are capped at a maximum of 10% each year. “The (produce) market decided we would take seven percent and the employees would share in percent, if it goes over that. They maintain their health benefits.”