Teamsters Protest Rather Than Negotiate; Dunkin' Donuts Northeast Supplier Ready for Continued Talks

BELLINGHAM, Mass., July 22 /PRNewswire/ -- While the Northeast DCP, an independent supplier for Dunkin' Donuts restaurants throughout New England, stands ready for continued bargaining, Teamsters Local 25 staged a protest in downtown Boston today, sending contradictory signals about its intentions. In a statement on union websites, the Teamsters called future negotiations "a waste of time" and threatened a boycott, but then urged the Northeast DCP to "come to the bargaining table with an open mind."

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100716/NE36432LOGO )

(Logo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100716/NE36432LOGO )

"The Northeast DCP has been bargaining in good faith. We have a good package on the table, and we are ready to continue talking," said Patty Healy, the Northeast DCP's Vice President of Program Management and Communications. "The Teamsters broke off the talks."

Bargaining for a contract covering approximately 180 truck drivers and helpers had been progressing, with tentative agreements reached on 36 issues. Other issues, including wages and benefits, vacation, holidays and discipline/discharge, were under discussion when the Teamsters called a halt to talks on July 16.

The negotiations halted over the Teamsters' continuing demand that current employees be forced to pay union dues or face termination. Nearly half of the bargaining unit voted against union representation in the election last summer. Because of this, the Northeast DCP believes those employees should have the right to freedom of choice. In a compromise offer, the Northeast DCP proposed mandatory union dues for new employees, who would be aware of the dues requirement and have freedom of choice about whether to accept the job. The Northeast DCP also agreed to deduct dues from paychecks, when appropriate. But the Teamsters union refused to budge on its position.

"The fact that we cannot make progress with the Teamsters on this issue begs the question, 'What is really driving the union?'" said Healy. "Is it the best interests of our Northeast DCP employees, or is it the future revenue stream our employees will provide to the Teamsters? If the Teamsters' union got its wish, our drivers would be forced to pay a 'union tax' of more than $700 every year in order to keep their jobs."

Below are other issues that were under discussion when the Teamsters called a halt to talks:

Wages and Benefits: Under the most current wage proposal made by the Northeast DCP in these negotiations, drivers would earn more than $24 per hour. This is in addition to existing benefits that include:

• A 401(k) with a company match
• A high quality Blue Cross Blue Shield health plan with 80 percent company contribution toward the cost of premiums (regardless of whether an employee elects individual or family coverage)
• An aggressive incentive pay program

Holidays: The Northeast DCP is proposing that the current practice be maintained, which is to provide an extra day's pay to all drivers and helpers for a holiday. (Since most drivers and helpers work a four-day week, some end up working on the holiday, and some do not.)

"The Teamsters claim we are 'taking away benefits and attacking working families,'" said Healy. "The truth is there is only one instance where we have proposed a change to current benefits: vacation. Going forward, employees would still enjoy the same number of vacation days, but would be limited to carrying over five days from year to year and unable to cash out unused future vacation time. We want our employees to benefit from vacation in its truest sense – time for rest and relaxation that is both needed and deserved."  This vacation policy is currently in effect for administrative employees at the company.  

The Northeast DCP is already delivering a highly competitive total compensation package. That package, combined with a comfortable and safe work environment, has been the basis for unusually low turnover rates at the Northeast DCP compared to the industry. Approximately 80 percent of the drivers in the bargaining unit have been on the job for more than five years, and more than one-third have been employed by the Northeast DCP longer than a decade.

Because of the Teamsters' unfortunate decision to stop talking, the Northeast DCP is prepared to implement contingency plans, if necessary, to ensure that deliveries continue to the more than 2,200 Dunkin' Donuts restaurants in New England that count on these trucks arriving.  

"The Northeast DCP apologizes for any inconvenience today's activities may have caused the restaurant employees, city officials and loyal customers of the 111 State Street location," said Healy. "We remain committed to reaching an agreement that is in the best long-term interests of our employees, Dunkin' Donuts franchisees and, ultimately, Dunkin' Donuts consumers." 

Updated news and our public statements about this issue can be found at the website: www.nedcpnegotiations.com.

About The Northeast DCP

The Northeast DCP (NEDCP) is an independent supplier for Dunkin' Donuts restaurants throughout New England. The NEDCP, with nearly 500 employees, operates under the National DCP, LLC (NDCP), which was established in 2005 to unify both the buying power and manpower of four existing regional centers. The NDCP is the exclusive Supply Chain Partner for Dunkin' Donuts, Inc., servicing more than 6,000 Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin Robbins outlets worldwide.

SOURCE The Northeast DCP

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