Teamsters File Unfair Labor Practice Charge Against Osco

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May 09, 2013, 01:45 ET

Company Violates Law By Firing 30-year Pharmacist and Teamster Negotiating Committee Member, Charge Says

CHICAGO, May 9, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Teamsters Local 727 has filed unfair labor practice charges against Jewel-Osco after the company violated the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) when it terminated Teamster pharmacist and bargaining committee member Harold Collier. Collier has been an Osco pharmacist for 30 years.

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"After our investigation and watching the company stonewall us through the grievance process, it became obvious that Harold's dismissal was just another cynical negotiating tactic," said John T. Coli, Teamsters Local 727 Secretary-Treasurer and lead negotiator for the pharmacists.

The charge was filed at the National Labor Relations Board on May 8, 2013. The company is charged with violating Section 8(a)(3) of the Act.

Since beginning negotiations, the Teamsters have met eight times with Osco officials in an effort to bargain a new contract. On May 7, with the assistance of federal mediators negotiations extended for nearly 12 hours. To date no contract has been reached. On May 7, Teamsters also began hand-billing area Osco stores to alert the public to a possible labor dispute.

Teamsters Union has represented Chicago-area Osco pharmacists for more than 30 years. In that time, there has been no labor action.

"The Teamsters and Jewel-Osco have had a long history of cooperation and flexibility at the negotiating table for three decades," Coli said. "It is a shame that the company has decided not to engage in good faith bargaining."

Teamsters Local 727 represents more than 400 pharmacists at Jewel-Osco and more than 6,400 workers throughout the Chicago area.

SOURCE Teamsters Local 727