SCI Pushes Alderwoods Funeral Employees to Brink of Labor Dispute
Talks Break Off Without a Final Offer
Service Corporation International pushed its Chicago-area funeral directors and chauffeurs to the brink of a labor dispute Monday. The company left the negotiating table without making a final offer on the last day of the contract.
Teamsters Local 727 represents Alderwoods Group, Inc., funeral directors and chauffeurs. Alderwoods is a subsidiary of Houston-based Service Corporation International.
The company extended the contract, which expires at midnight, through Tuesday. Company negotiators said they would send a final offer Tuesday afternoon.
“Service Corporation International has yet to demonstrate that it cares about its employees, their families, or the communities,” said John Coli, secretary-treasurer of Teamsters Local 727. “The company has yet to show that “dignity” is more than just a word that helps them sell funerals.”
“We have received hundreds of letters of support from the community,” Coli said. “We’re extremely grateful for their outpouring of concern in this difficult time.”
The country’s largest funeral services company wants drastic concessions, including a pay cut of 6 percent to 28 percent from employees. “It is unconscionable for SCI to ask for wage concessions when they’re enjoying dramatic revenue growth and profitability,” Coli said.
Service Corporation International rewarded chief executive Tom Ryan with $6.4 million last year, according to the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The Alderwoods employees will meet at Local 727 on Tuesday night for a vote to ratify the contract. Should they vote against ratifying the contract, a strike vote will be held. If the employees decide to strike, they will make certain families have enough time to make alternative funeral arrangements. A hotline will be set up to refer Alderwoods clients to union funeral homes nearby.
The Teamsters already reached out to clergy and other community leaders to warn them that SCI could force them into a labor disruption.
A strike could have repercussions beyond the 25 employees at the six Alderwoods homes in Chicago, Stickney, Wilmette, Des Plaines and Arlington Heights. The area’s 82 Service Corporation International employees would not have to cross Alderwoods picket lines under their current contract with the Teamsters.
The homes are: Mt. Auburn in Stickney, Oehlers Arlington Heights, Oehlers Des Plaines, Weinstein-Devon in Chicago, Weinstein-Wilmette and Zefran in Chicago.
Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CLICK ON NEWS STORIES BELOW
CBS Chicago» Funeral Home Workers May Go On Strike
Des Plaines Times» Funeral Homes' Employees Ready to Strike
Fox Business» Labor Dispute Looms For Chicago-Area Funeral Home Employees
Download PDF
MORE NEWS »
|
