IN 2022, WE REMAIN UNITED & STRONG!
EXECUTIVE BOARD Debra Simmons-Peterson President (773) 299-1770 dsimmons@teamsterslocal743.com
LOCAL 743 OFFICERS AND STAFF DIRECTORY
Christine Salamone Vice-President (773) 299-1776 csalamone@teamsterslocal743.com James Thomas Secretary-Treasurer (773) 299-1771 jthomas@teamsterslocal743.com Julita Barrios, Recording Secretary (773) 299-1781 jbarrios@teamsterslocal743.com Georgetta Davis, Trustee (773) 614-0204 georgettad25@gmail.com Kevin Sanders, Trustee / Sr. Union Rep. (773) 299-1784 ksanders@teamsterslocal743.com
Stay in touch with your Leadership and Business Representatives
CHANGE OF ADDRESS
Jose Silva, Trustee / Sr. Union Rep. (773) 299-1775 jsilva@teamsterslocal743.com
AGENTS & OPERATORS
Don’t forget to update Local 743 when moving or when your mailing address changes.
Vivian Schmitter General Counsel 773-299-1787 vschmitter@teamsterslocal743.com
Crystal Lindsey Titan Operator 773-299-1780 clindsey@teamsterslocal743.com
Brendan Crowley Attorney 773-299-1792 bcrowley@teamsterslocal743.com
Harold Johnson Sr. Union Representative 773-299-1774 hjohnson@teamsterslocal743.com
Rose Alvarado Director of Titan 773-299-1778 ralvarado@teamsterslocal743.com
Precious Morris Union Representative 773-299-1794 pmorris@teamsterslocal743.com
Denise Stiger Organizer 773-299-1783 dstiger@teamsterslocal743.com
Lakeisha Massey Lead Titan Operator 773-299-1779 lmassey@teamsterslocal743.com
Jazzium Gregory Assistant Union Representative 773-299-1761 773-742-8258 (cell) jgregory@teamsterslocal743.com
Deidre Jenkins-Wilborn Administrative Assistant 773-299-1788 djenkins@teamsterslocal743.com
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Contact us: (773) 254-7460 ralvarado@teamsterslocal743.com
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE: GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING The President Speaks
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Supporting one another through our challenges: “The New Normal”
Success Stories
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American Stair, Edgewater Health and others ratify contracts & terms
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Local 743 Legal Update Bringing home the goods
Grievance Victories Jazzium Gregory & Kevin Sanders go to bat for UCMC members
Health & Welfare
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CSU’s New Chapter
Over-the-Counter, At Home COVID-19 tests now available for free
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June 6, 6:00 pm Oct. 3, 6:00 pm
Nov. 7, 6:00 pm Dec. 5, 6:00 pm
**July, Aug and Sept meetings are suspended for the summer months
ALL MEMBER PICNIC!
PRESENTED BY TEAMSTERS LOCAL 743
Scholarship Winners Saluting the 2022 JC25 Women’s Committee Scholarship winners!
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2022 SCHEDULE:
CSU members stand together to counter longstanding inequities
Local 743 Retirees Celebrating our treasured retirees at their annual Holiday Luncheon
Robin Sullivan Retires After 42 years of service, Robin Sullivan begins her new chapter
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Saturday, July 23, 2022 Noon – 6:00 PM Teamsters Local 743 Union Hall 4620 S. Tripp Ave Chicago, IL 60632
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
Dear Sisters and Brothers: Local 743 Members return to the New Normal… After living though more than two and half years of the Covid 19 Pandemic, several areas of life are beginning to return to a “New Normal”. Manufacturing facilities are operating at full capacity, restaurants and indoor dining are crowded again, retail stores are booming, schools are back to inperson learning and office workers are getting back together face-toface. I am filled with hope and optimism as we take back control from Covid-19. So many of our Union Members who have been working on the front lines during this entire Pandemic have needed space and time in order to recover and regroup. Not one person is unaffected by the experiences of the last few years, and for many of us, there will be ongoing stress and anxiety. Life will definitely be different from now on and we need to learn to be comfortable in this new way of living. Everyone will need to rebuild their level of safety and trust slowly and carefully with kindness and most importantly, with unity and solidarity. The need for strong leadership will only increase as we help ourselves and our fellow brothers and sisters 4 | www.teamsterslocal743.com
to navigate this new normal. A Local Union can only be as strong as its membership. Our members must remember what it means to work as a team - to make promises to each other, and to know that no matter what happens, the Union has your back. Commitment and teamwork go hand in hand. Participating in your Local Union, sticking together, and educating your fellow union members are simple, everyday ways you can show your support. We all need to remember that personal interaction with each other is vital and without it, over time, employees can begin to feel like they are not seen or valued - especially when some of our individual experiences and challenges over the course of the pandemic have been very intense and not without deep loss. It is important to try to understand each other’s unique challenges and search for the common experience. Everyone’s life has changed but we must stay strong and unified. Local 743 will continue to invest in educating and training our Union Stewards to help them be as successful as possible in representing our members. Our Union Stewards are a vital part of the Union and Local 743 will always provide the necessary resources to assist them in properly filing grievances and resolving issues in the workplace. Local 743 is committed to our members and we take our job very seriously, but member commitment and support is crucial to our success and overall recovery from the pandemic. As always, I will continue to have an open-door policy. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me at 773-254-7460.
Debra Simmons-Peterson President
MESSAGE FROM THE VICE PRESIDENT Dear Brothers and Sisters: As the newly appointed Vice President of Local 743, I am extremely grateful and honored to serve the Local 743 members in my new role. The position of Vice President is an integral part of Local 743’s leadership team. I assist the President in all of her duties and I am responsible for managing internal union staff and the daily office operations, helping to ensure the membership is receiving the best possible representation at all times. President Simmons’ number one priority is to defend our members and their rights and make sure they have the professional leadership they deserve. We are constantly working to resolve issues in the workplace, protect workers’ rights, listen to the member’s issues and concerns, answer questions, give updates on current contract negotiations and provide our members with as much knowledge and personal attention as possible. Local 743 is committed to improving the lives of our members and we work very hard each day to keep our members unified. Our goal is to negotiate stronger contracts with fair wage increases, improved benefits and working conditions and job stability. Our mission is to protect the long-term economic future of our members. We want you to feel the Union difference. Being in a union is about more than just pay and benefits. It’s about being respected for the work you do. It’s about feeling safe and protected on the job. It’s about having the resources and training to do your jobs well, and it’s about always having someone to turn to if something’s not right.
Christine Salamone Vice President
Local 743 News & Commentaries From the Desk of the Secretary-Treasurer Dear Brothers and Sisters: “Knowledge is Power. ”Actions speak louder than words.”
With so many workers divided, uninvolved, disassociated, and clueless in the workplace, it’s no wonder that multimillionaires are permitted to plan our future earnings and employment rights
These are slogans we have all heard time and time again. But, the current political and economic climate within the State of Illinois have made both of these slogans more important than ever. As a union member, do you know what your elected officials are trying to enact into law? Do you know their stances on the needs of your family and community? Collective Bargaining? Worker’s Compensation? Equal Opportunity?
James Thomas Secretary-Treasurer
With so many workers divided, uninvolved, disassociated and clueless in the workplace, it’s no wonder that multi-millionaires are permitted to plan our future earnings and employment rights unchallenged, behind closed doors, with no push-back or resistance from working men and women.
Never has it been more important for people to become informed and involved in their workplace than right now. Union workers nationwide are under attack. Workers are still struggling to combat right-to-work legislation, and dramatic cuts to education and many social services that are vital to our membership. Your livelihood and your family’s well-being are under attack!
unchallenged, behind
What are you planning to do about it?
closed doors, with no
Allow me to make a few suggestions: Stand in solidarity in your workplace. No more division! We all need to become activists and educate ourselves. Take advantage of the resources, events, trainings, and workshops that Local 743 provides for your continued education. Support members who are fighting injustices and protesting for worthy causes. Share knowledge and information on current events with your fellow co-workers. And most importantly, KNOW YOUR RIGHTS!
push-back or resistance from working men and women.
Continue to reach out to your State Representatives. We can not remain undecided, nor continue to keep guessing about our futures. We must stand firm, and demand respect from unaccountable politicians and CEOs 13 | www.teamsterslocal743.com
SUCCESS STORY
LOCAL 743 RATIFIES NEW CONTRACTS WITH UCMC WINNING RAISES & IMPROVED BENEFITS After 9 months of negotiations, Local 743 Members at the University of Chicago Medical Center (UCMC) stood strong to win wage increases and reject major concessions.
Local 743 is incredibly pleased that the Union’s Bargaining Committee has reached a tentative agreement with the University of Chicago Clerical. Members were united in their demands for better pay and dignity at work! The Union showed its unity through buttons, our contract action team, through the wearing of a single color, and petitioning the Employer for respect on the job. Because of solidarity and a united front, Local 743 has secured the best general wage increases in at least 26 years for the members at the University of Chicago Clerical - which over the span of four years, equates to approximately $8,295,924.92 in wage increases for our membership. This isn’t just the best contract since 1996. The floor was raised at Uchicago, with record breaking first year increases for C5 and C6 Employees. In the first year Employees in Grade-C5 will receive 8% increases and employees in Grade C-6 will receive 10%, instead of the 3.5% first year increase, and will receive the year two, year three and year four increases like any other member. Local 743 members will now be eligible to qualify for up to 6 weeks of paid parental leave without use of their vacation or sick. Bereavement leave was increased to up to 20 days for spouse and child bereavement and 5 days for other family members. Other improvements included improved job security by ensuring disciplines that were over a year old will not be used as the basis for future discipline. Also, employees C7 and below elected to bump to apply with a preference for up to six months. Members are now guaranteed preference in applying for one year if they exhaust their short-term and long-term leaves. Local 743 and its members came together and secured all this and more, without a single concession or a day of work lost by our membership. 5 | www.teamsterslocal743.com
“I am so proud of the way our membership stood strong and united until we got what we were fighting for” Simmons-Peterson said. “Everyone gets a wage increase. We now have 6-weeks paid parental leave. And when the administration wanted to take away benefits like daily overtime, we fought to make sure that didn’t happen. UCMC Teamsters have always been heroes, now the University has made the first step towards treating them like it.” The new contract was ratified on March 10th by the nearly 2,000 Members Local 743 represents at UCMC. It includes pay raises and the new addition of 6-weeks of paid parental leave for all Members in the bargaining unit. The bargaining team also won a stipend for internet and electricity usage by Members who work remotely from home, while protecting daily overtime and the uniform benefit. Local 743 was also able to extend uniform vouchers to every Member that is required to use a uniform. Local 743’s newest members at UCMC, Emergency Room, and Endoscopy Technicians will receive substantial pay increases (for some these increases were as much as 21% in just the first year), a decrease in their health insurance costs, and the creation of paysteps, which guarantee multiple wage increases per year for employees with five or fewer years of service. Bargaining sessions began in June 2021, after Local 743 agreed to postpone sessions originally scheduled for early 2020 in order to keep the focus on providing essential healthcare services during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Because of that, Local 743 members have not received a wage increase in over two years.
SUCCESS STORY
Back row: Eduardo Reyes (Steward), Tom Nickel (Steward), Jose Silva (Lead negotiator), Stan Reyes (Steward) -- Front row: Julita Barrios (union representative), Flor Flores (Committee member), Armando Alvarez (Steward), Miguel Herrera (committee member)
Southwire contract was ratified on December 20, 2021. The members have a new 3-year agreement. Improvements in overtime language, vacation language, training pay, improvements in bereavement leave, more money for severance plan. Members received an 8% wage increase in the first year and 4% and 4% in the 2nd and 3rd years. Members were extremely satisfied.
FROM ACTIVISTS TO STEWARDS As shining examples of perseverance and dedication, RUSH member Reggie Thomas and UCMC member Ralph Harper began their Teamsters careers as activists in the 1990s. Today, as Union
Company: Negotiation Team: Issue: Pictures:
Peer Bearing Jose Silva, Julita Barrios, Mayra Silva & Robert Bird Contract Ratification Mayra Silva (Steward) & Debra Simmons-Peterson (Local 743 President)
Peer Bearing’s contract was ratified on November 4, 2021. The company has always had increases around $0.40 per hour each year, within 5-year contracts. The negotiating committee was able to secure a contract of $7.90 in total increases through the 5-year period, with the initial increase in year one now $2.80. Though this is a first for Peer Bearing, companies are beginning to realize they must better compensate their workforces. There is an overwhelming shortage of workers in many fields. Peer bearing members received improvements in their seniority language, bereavement leave, an extra paid personal day, and more. This is the first contract for Mayra Silva, who was recently elected union steward, along with Committee members Jose Silva (Lead Negotiator), Julita Barrios (Union Representative), Mayra Silva (Steward), Robert Bird (Union Member).
Peer Chain’s 5-year contract was ratified on September 24, 2021. As with Peer Bearing, Peer Chain always had increases of $0.40. With the recent ratification, members will receive a total of $5.25 increased throughout the 5-years. Reggie Thomas
Ralph Harper
Stewards, they continue to lead by example, advocating for fair contracts and favorable working conditions. We salute you both! 6 | www.teamsterslocal743.com
Members also won the Juneteenth holiday, improvements in family coverage health insurance, improvements in 401K and non-discrimination language. The negotiations committee included Jorge Nunez (Union Steward), Jose Silva (Lead Negotiator), Julita Barrios (Union Representative), and Ubaldo Alvarez (Alternate Union Steward).
SUCCESS STORY
Members at Edgewater Health signing for their Wage Increase Settlement Checks on November 10, 2021.
Company: Member: Sr. Union Rep: Issue: Pictures:
On March 5, 2021, Teamsters Local 743 was in contract negotiations with Edgewater Health when the Union discovered that the Company had failed to timely implement agreed upon yearly wage increases, along with any retroactive pay, which was a direct violation of the current collective bargaining agreement.
American Stair Robert Bonneau Harold Johnson Discipline per Drug/Alcohol Policy Robert Bonneau & Harold Johnson
A Class Action Grievance was filed immediately by Union Representative Precious Morris. During the grievance process the Company acknowledged the error on their part.
Robert was falsely accused of smoking marijuana while at his workstation in March 2021. Employer discipline was termination and an offer of a rehire agreement (which Robert reluctantly agreed to) with a new seniority date of March 2021.
The Company agreed to settle with the Union by giving all members that were affected by the Wage Increase Grievance their pay increase for all hours worked from January 2018- January 2020.
With an original hire date that dates back to 1988 (his active seniority date is July 2011 due to a 2-year layoff break in service and loss of recall rights) that would have negated about 30 years of dedication to the employer.
The sum of $32,232.71, as a settlement agreement, was to be paid out to the affected members.
Robert decided to reach out to Local 743 for help, and Local 743 Rep Harold Johnson filed a grievance on behalf of Robert. The Union cited the rehire agreement was in violation of the Labor Contract. There was a lack of enough credible proof to support the administered discipline and the Union commitment of pursuing Arbitration procedure provided for in the Labor Contract. The employer relented to the Union request to reinstate Roberts proper seniority date (no back pay was pursued due to extenuating circumstances).
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On November 10, 2021, Representative Precious Morris and Steward Jeniece Winston distributed checks to the members.
Pictured above: Adenis Fuentes Tonjia Young Lisa Rias
SUCCESS STORY
The following members were brought back from terminations after grievances were filed. All of them were brought back on last chance agreements: Dwain Davis Jesus Castellanos Jose Ortega Rollie Barnes
25 year employee 44 year employee 38 year employee 44 year employee
CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS Bagcraft received a 6% increase in the first year followed by 3% and 3%. This company has historically rejected the initial offer from the company and increases were always 2% each year. The members made history by accepting the first offer and getting the 6% in the first year. Improvements were made in their sick time language as well as bereavement leave. Members will also receive a life insurance provided by the company and a yearly tool allowance. Shift differentials were increased as well.
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SUCCESS STORY
Rush University Medical Center members Shuntay Brown and Clarence Williams were both terminated, but the Union fought hard to get their jobs back, and won! President Simmons leaped into action the moment she heard about the displacement. Pictured: Clarence Williams and Georgetta Davis, RUSH Steward and Local 743 Trustee
SOMEONE YOU WANT TO KNOW Shuntay Brown used to be a Steward with RUSH University Medical Center. Her experiences on the job, it has catapulted her into an experienced activist and advocate for the Local 743 membership. “Shuntay is constantly working on spreading the word about her union,” says Local 743 President Debra Simmons-Peterson. “She keeps the RUSH members informed about their contract and other Union activities.” Teamsters Local 743 salutes Shuntay for being a proud & effective Union Activist! 9 | www.teamsterslocal743.com
Teamsters Local 743 celebrated its 2nd annual CINCO DE MAYO event, hosted by the Teamsters Local 743 Hispanic Caucus. During the event, guests paid their farewells to two stewards with over 30 years of membership: Estela Gomez of Arrow Home and Fred Kremnitzer of Water Saver Faucet.
Teamsters Local 743 Legal Team Update Bringing Home The Goods: Teamsters Local 743’s Legal Department Secures Over $37,000,000.00 In Wage Increases for our Members in 12 Months
Staff Attorney Teamsters Local 743
The past twelve months has been one of the most difficult contract cycles in Local 743 history. When the pandemic hit, no-one knew what to expect and many employers looked like they might go under. At some shops, employees were entirely laid off, some just closed their doors, and others sought concessions.
Many employers took a “wait and see approach” to the pandemic and many shops requested one-year extensions hoping to ride out the insecurity of the pandemic. In the Spring of 2021, these extensions were set to expire and the Local had to deal with twice the number of contract negotiations as normal. At one point, 30% of the Union’s membership was in contract negotiations all at the same time! In addition to Local 743 staff having twice the workload, the Employers took very aggressive positions at the table trying to reduce costs at our members’ expense. During this difficult period, Local 743 endured some of the toughest negotiations in recent memory. Blue Cross Blue Shield sought a Federal Mediator for the first time in history, and UCMC negotiations extended over a record-breaking 27 sessions! Despite the increased workload and difficulty dealing with aggressive employers, Local 743’s Legal Department was able to secure some of the best contracts our members have ever received in our history! Blue Cross Blue Shield implemented substantial increases for phone-based roles, causing a rise in new hires and long-term pay. Jackson Park and Insight (formerly Mercy) implemented step increases for the first time in their history! UCMC had the highest average wage increase in over 15 years! These contract votes had a record-breaking turnout and all agreements were ratified by over 80% of the Union Members voting. And it wasn’t just contract negotiations that equated to major money in our members’ pockets. President Simmons and Vice President Salamone, along with the Local 743 Union Representatives, fought hard to win several grievance settlement awards totaling in excess of $350,000. In conclusion, over $37,000,000.00 in wage increases for our members were negotiated in the past 12 months. That is REAL MONEY placed in the members’ pockets, further protecting the long-term economic future of our membership! All proof that your Union Representatives work hard to protect our members’ livelihoods and ensure they have the professional leadership they deserve!
Teamsters Local 743 Donates to the American Cancer Society
In October 2021, Teamsters Local 743 donated $2,500 to the American Cancer Society in support of their 2021 Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk. The check was graciously accepted by Danilea Enea, Senior Development Manager for the American Cancer Society. 6 | www.teamsterslocal743.com
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KNOW YOUR REPRESENTATIVE
KNOW YOUR REPRESENTATIVE
Recording Secretary
Trustee
Union Representative
Sr. Union Representative
ABOUT JOSE:
ABOUT JULITA: Julita was sure to always sign up for classes or workshops having to do with labor as a TITAN Operator early in her career. Since that time, she’s been promoted to an Assistant Union Representative, Lead TITAN operator position, and finally, her current positions, Recording Secretary and Union Representative. Julita is active on the Chicago Teamsters Hispanic Caucus as a Board of Directors since 2019 and helped coordinate Local 743’s first “Immigration Clinic” in 2020 and the second one in 2021. She also helped initiate the yearly “Cinco de Mayo” events in 2021 & 2022, which were a huge success. As a Latina in the Teamsters world, she believes she has been blessed that people like Debra Simmons-Peterson believed in and mentored her into moving up in an often male-dominated organization. Julita is proud to be a part of this local and this organization.
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3 rd generation Unionist
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1 st Generation Teamster
With hard work and dedication, Jose Silva has established himself as a successful skilled negotiator and has championed unprecedented wage increases and strong contracts for the hard working Local 743 members in a variety of diverse industries.
What does it take to be a skilled negotiator? “Every bargaining session presents unique challenges and obstacles that must be fought with confidence and conviction to significantly improve the working conditions and the standard of living for our union members. That is what I strive to do every day within Local 743.”
JC25 Women’s Committee 2022 Scholarship Winners “Congratulations to Jalesa and Destinee for being awarded the 2022 JC25 Women’s Committee’s Scholarship.” ~ Tracy Reed, President of Teamsters Joint Council 25 Women’s committee.
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“Recipients of this scholarship were selected from hardworking Teamster Women. Women from all industries. Being selected for this scholarship is an honor and I commend Local 743 awardees, along with the entire 2022 scholarship recipients for their outstanding achievements.” First Place winner Jalesa Peterson is employed at Rush University Medical Center in the Housekeeping Department and a four-year member of Teamsters Local 743. Destinee DeFell is the Third-Place scholarship award recipient. She currently works in the Outpatient Pharmacy Department at Provident Hospital of Cook County as a Certified Pharmacy Technician. The Teamsters Joint Council 25 Women’s Scholarship is given to actively working Teamster Women who have demonstrated their desire to pursue their educational goals.
JAZZIUM GREGORY
Assistant Union Representative
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President Simmons has also been personally assisting the UCMC members to win grievances and settlements.
KEVIN SANDERS
Sr. Union Representative/Trustee
The Faces of Teamsters Local 743
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The first annual Hat & Glove Drive hosted by Local 743’s Women's Committee was a huge success in late 2021. Outdoor clothing for adults and children, in all sizes, were collected from December 8-20, 2021 at Local 743 headquarters and were subsequently donated to the Pacific Garden Mission. The Pacific Garden Mission provides safe shelter, hot meals, and lasting hope for Chicago’s homeless population. Teamsters Local 743 is proud to support efforts to increase the availability of transformational housing, food, clothing, emergency shelter and ministry to the underserved.
HAT & GLOVE DONATIONS
Over the Counter At Home Covid Test Kits
HEALTH & WELFARE ADMINISTRATION
For all Local 743 Union members who are covered under the Teamsters Local 743 Health and Welfare Fund, please be advised that starting January 15, 2022, coverage for at-home COVID-19 diagnostic tests will be reimbursed under the pharmacy benefit. Anyone who is covered under the Local 743 Health and Welfare Plan who purchases a Covid 19 diagnostic test and pays out-of-pocket is required to submit a receipt with a claim form (attached above). The form attests that test kits are not being used for testing required by an employer, travel, etc. Members will need to sign the attestation prior to claim submission. Over the Counter COVID test kits are also available free of charge if requested through the following link: www.covidtests.gov
Blue Cross Blue Shield Stewards Attend Training The Union held a stewards training for the BCBS stewards from Chicago, Naperville and Morgan Park offices on April 27, 2022. Some topics that were covered were: -
Know your rights on the job Learn how to get Member involved How to investigate a grievance Writing and presenting a grievance
Blue Cross Blue Shield Stewards: Rekeya Watters, Brigett O’Donnell, Tia Paylor, Sherry Sims, Michael Consalvo, Yusuf Kassem, Robert Parham, Carol Jackson, Alvita Bradley 14 | www.teamsterslocal743.com
BCBS Morgan Park Steward, Carol Jackson
BCBS Morgan Park Steward, Alvita Bradley
Chicago State University Starts A New Chapter Chicago State University Unanimously Ratifies New Collective Bargaining Agreement and Starts a New Chapter. CSU Members: Toni McCoy Smith (Steward) & Philip Sommerville
In 2021, the members at CSU demanded and won larger increases, gave no concessions, and fixed longstanding pay inequities at Chicago State, with substantial increases for the lowest-paid employees in the Unit.
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Back in 2015 Bruce Rauner, an Illinois Billionaire and vulture capitalist ran on an anti-union platform for Governor. His platform indicated that he wished to do to the state of Illinois, what Scott Walker did to Wisconsin: gut the rights and voice of working people, decimate the public sector, and reduce wages for all workers in the state. Teamsters Joint Council 25, Local 743’s Joint Council, opposed his election and endorsed his opponent, unfortunately, he was ultimately elected. When Rauner took office he engaged in a protracted budget stand off with the legislature, that resulted in drastic cuts in state and federal funding. Amongst these cuts were the state’s expenditures on Higher Education. The worst hit universities by this standoff were Governor’s State and Chicago State Universities. During this time period, Local 743 members were subject to budget cuts, layoffs and messily increases from Chicago State, while Rauner appointees wasted money on failed satellite campuses and generous exit packages for former staff. Two years after the standoff, in 2017, members at CSU had to deal with not one but two partners of one of the largest law firms in
America. To give you an idea of their salaries, one of the employer’s attorneys had tried to purchase the Cubs in 2009, but was outbid by the Rickets. The employer demanded concessions, grievance timelines that were less than civil service, and a schedule of contractually mandated disciplines for every imaginable discipline. CSU members would not be abused further. We irked out modest increases, and fought back, and won against concessions, but fell short of fixing systemic issues that were our goal for those negotiations. CSU members vowed that 2021 was going to be different, and it was. Over the next four years members, with the assistance of staff, expanded the unit and worked with their coworkers to build worker power. In 2021, the members at CSU demanded and won larger increases, gave no concessions, and fixed longstanding pay inequities at Chicago State, with substantial increases for the lowestpaid employees in the Unit. In the end, because members built a movement and their voices were heard the members at Chicago State unanimously ratified their agreement.
BLESS OUR RETIREES!
LOCAL 743 RETIREE CLUB
Pictured: Golleen Bradley, President & Beverly Sisson, Vice President
The Local 743 retiree Holiday Luncheon was held on Friday, December 10, 2021 and the most recent “Spring Luncheon” on Friday, April 21, 2022 at Teamsters Local 743 Union Hall. Retirees always enjoy a day of Bingo, festive music, and delicious food. For more information about the Local 743 Retiree Club, please contact Deidrie Jenkins.
ROBIN SULLIVAN RETIRES AFTER 42 YEARS OF DEDICATED TEAMSTER SERVICE!
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ROBIN is beginning a new chapter in life! Her entire Teamsters Local 743 career has been amazing, with her having transitioned from a Business Rep and Activist, to an Executive Board Vice President. The entire Local 743 leadership, staff, members and supporters wish Robin the BEST in her future endeavors!
