Teamsters Local 710 Secretary-Treasurer & Principal Officer Mike Cales addresses JA Frate members from the picket line on June 13. (710 Photo)

CRYSTAL LAKE, IL | Teamsters Local 710 Drivers and Warehouse Workers at JA Frate met this morning to vote on the Company’s latest offer, which was overwhelmingly rejected, 55 votes to 10.

The workers went on strike June 13 and gave an unconditional return to work offer after the company finally sat back down with the Union on June 17. While the company did make some movement, it was not enough to adequately recognize ongoing issues.

“The company is really not addressing our major concerns, most importantly protections in healthcare,” said Secretary-Treasurer Mike Cales. “With the cost of everything continually rising, our members need to know that they and their families are covered under reliable and affordable healthcare without any surprises.”

Other items that are still lacking in the Company’s last offer include protection of work against subcontracting, safety conditions, and overtime procedures.

“This employer really just needs to wake up and listen to what their employees have been saying since day one of these negotiations,” said Cales. “We have made it perfectly clear what our hardworking members need and deserve that will continue to make JA Frate a reliable carrier in the freight industry.”

The Union is open to further discussion with the employer and is awaiting a response from them. Members will continue to work until further notice.

Teamsters Local 710 represents nearly 80 drivers and is currently organizing the warehouse workers at three JA Frate facilities in Crystal Lake, Waukegan, and Elk Grove Village, Ill. The members deliver freight for a handful of suppliers, chief among them being nationwide office supplier ULINE.