Blue Cross Employees Ratify Winning Contract

Long-Time Teamster Local 743 Members Receive Wage Increase, Signing Bonus

Blue Cross workers ratified a new contract with a vote of more than seven to one on May 31. 

Teamsters Local 743 represents the group of 750 Blue Cross employees who supply a variety of services from filing claims to unloading trucks. 

“This is a solid, winning contract from the wage increase to the continuation of health insurance and pension,” said Harold Johnson, Teamsters Local 743 Business Agent. “Local 743’s Blue Cross workers are all very happy with the results.”

The three-year contract includes:

• Wage increase (3.5 percent in 2007, four percent in 2008, four percent in 2009);
• 1.5 percent lump sum signing bonus upon contract ratification in 2007;
• New performance bonus with set guidelines;
• Continuation of current health and dental plans with only a $5 increase in co-pays and the prescription plan during the three-year contract;
• Continuation of pension and 401k benefits;
• Increase in shift premium for employees whose shifts start between 9 p.m. to 4 a.m.; and
• Company will not seek to recover premiums from employees who decide not to return to work following an approved FMLA leave of absence for 12 months. 

The members work at five different Blue Cross locations in the Chicagoland area and have been Teamsters for more than 30 years. 

Teamsters Local 743 represents 12,000 members in health care, professional, technical, office, warehouse and mail order industries in the Chicagoland area and Northwest Indiana. 

Download PDF

MORE NEWS »