MELROSE PARK, IL | Earlier this week, the Teamsters Local 710 Jewel-Osco Warehouse members successfully ratified a new five-year agreement with their employer by a 6-to-1 margin.

“This is another strong win for our members at Jewel,” said Secretary-Treasurer Mike Cales. “Our committeemen worked extremely hard all the way through to the end to make sure all our fellow Teamsters’ voices were heard, and we were very successful in securing enhancements across the entire contract that will improve the lives of our members and their families. We also greatly appreciate the support of IBT Warehouse Director Tom Erickson, who was instrumental in pushing our protections against automation over the finish line.”

The more than 600 Warehouse Workers including Assemblers, Janitors, Sanitors, and Salvage workers who work out of the Jewel/Albertson’s distribution center in Melrose Park, Ill. attained improvements throughout the agreement, including:

• A raise of $11 per hour over the life of the contract, with a total $6 increase within the first year
• Increase to eight paid days off – all to be used fully at the member’s discretion
• Company-sponsored health insurance shall be frozen for the entire duration of the contract, meaning no increases to costs or changes to the plan for 5 years
• Lowered the amount of time to accrue paid vacation time and the number of hours for those vacations to be paid at 50 hours
• Increases to the Company’s monthly contributions into members’ 401(k) funds
• Increased starting rate (with movement to top-of-scale wage rates after five years of service)

“This contract is life-changing for me and my family, so I know it is for my fellow brothers and sisters as well,” said Mike Saaby, 25-year Jewel Warehouse Steward in Dry Grocery. “Sitting on my first bargaining committee was a great experience, which allowed me to see firsthand everything that goes into winning a contract that protects every single one of us. I was proud to sit shoulder-to-shoulder with the Local leadership and my fellow Jewel brothers and bring this agreement back to the members.”

“I was so proud to bring this contract, with everything we secured throughout it, to the members for their vote,” said Keith Kazluski, 710 Business Agent and former Jewel Warehouse member for over 30 years. “Every member of our committee kept up the fight through these negotiations, which got contentious at times, but they stood firm, and the improvements in every corner of this contract prove that.”

“This is the 10th contract that I have negotiated with Jewel, this was the best bargaining committee and best contract I’ve ever seen,” said Dick Bartolo, 710 Business Agent and former 41-year Jewel Warehouse member. “I want to thank Mike Cales and the Local’s leadership for handling these negotiations so well for the betterment of all of our members.”

Teamsters Local 710 is an affiliate of Teamsters Joint Council 25 and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, representing more than 13,000 members across Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa.