MOKENA, IL | The Teamsters Local 710 Bargaining Committee for Jewel-Osco resumed negotiations Monday and Wednesday this week. After last week’s abysmal bargaining session, the Union hoped for progress to be made at the table this week. However, no meaningful progress was made over those two sessions.

The Union passed a comprehensive proposal yesterday and went through the outstanding issues still on the table – which, by and large, are still all of them.

“We have told the employer over and over that our committee works under the full direction of the rank-and-file membership, and the weight and importance of that seems to fall on deaf ears,” said Secretary-Treasurer Mike Cales. “Our committee is fed up. Our members are fed up. This company needs to come to their senses and take us seriously, because we’re really running out of time.”

Local 710 has scheduled a strike authorization vote for tomorrow. With that vote, it will voice the membership’s approval to strike if needed. The contract is set to expire at 11:59 pm on March 6, 2021.

“Going on strike is always a last resort, but it’s something we might have to consider,” said Cales. “710 wants a fair and equitable agreement that addresses the egregious issues our members have had to put up with for far too long. A strike may be the only way for the company to finally understand that, and our members have the full support of this Local if that’s the route they want to go.”

Across the country, Teamsters working for Albertsons, the parent company of Jewel-Osco, are facing similar fights at the bargaining table and are conducting strike authorization votes of their own – which are being overwhelmingly approved by the members.

Bargaining is set to resume next Friday, February 26, 2021.

Teamsters Local 710 represents more than 850 warehouse workers, drivers, and dispatchers out of the Melrose Park, Ill. distribution center that services over 185 Jewel-Osco grocery stores throughout Chicagoland communities.

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Strike Authorization Vote for Local 710 Jewel Members

When:	Friday, February 19, 2021 6:30 am – 5:30pm
Where:	Centre at North Park 10040 Addison Ave. Franklin Park, IL 60131

Directions from complex:
North on 25th Ave. Left at 2nd light after the railroad tracks to Centre
Approx. 10 minutes from the complex
Masks and social distancing are required!