Teamsters Reach Agreement With Funeral Industry Giant SCI

News provided by

Jul 01, 2010, 04:05 ET

Funeral Workers at 17 Area Facilities Vote to Ratify Three-Year Contract

CHICAGO, July 1 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- After a marathon contract negotiation session on the day the current contract expired, Teamsters Local 727 representatives and funeral industry giant Service Corporation International (NYSE: SCI) were able to reach an agreement on a new three-year contract for funeral directors, embalmers and drivers at 17 area funeral facilities on Wednesday, June 30, 2010.

Members later voted to ratify the new contract.

"In the final hours, both sides came together at the bargaining table to get this contract settled," said John Coli Jr., Local 727 Vice President. "We're proud of our members for standing up for themselves and showing management that they were serious about protecting the things they value most."

The contract with the Houston, Texas-based company includes the preservation of employee pensions and health and welfare benefits.

"We're glad we were able to keep good Chicago jobs and secure the livelihoods of these hardworking men and women," Coli said.

Teamsters Local 727 is an affiliate of Teamsters Joint Council 25, which represents more than 100,000 men and women throughout Illinois and Indiana.

SOURCE Teamsters Joint Council 25