Central Grocers Ratifies Teamster Contract

Local 703 Secures Wage, Vacation Increases for Warehouse Workers

Approximately 330 workers with Central Grocers, Inc. will see better benefits and wages—including a 7.8 percent increase for senior employees—over the next three years thanks to the ratification of a new Teamster contract.

Teamsters Local 703, which has represented workers at the Joliet-based grocery cooperative for three decades, worked for more than eight months to secure the latest contract. But lengthy negotiations between the bargaining committee and management paid off as the Teamsters forged an advantageous agreement last week.

Members rejected a previous contract proposal in December by a vote of 262-1.

“Our members and business agents were committed throughout negotiations to win the wages and benefits they rightly deserve,” said Thomas W. Stiede, Local 703 Secretary-Treasurer. “The Teamsters are proud to have represented the dedicated workers of Central Grocers for 30 years and we’ll continue to fight for good-paying jobs for decades to come.”

Central Grocers supplies products and wholesale items to approximately 400 independent grocery stores throughout the Midwest, including Strack & Van Til, Walt’s Food Centers and WiseWay. Its workers in Joliet will see significant wage and benefit increases over the length of their contract, with some workers receiving as much as 7.8 percent during the first year. All workers will receive 4.6 and 4.7 percent increases in wages and pension and severance fund contributions during the second and third years, respectively.

Paid personal days, enhanced vacation pay and premium pay for weekend work are included in the contract as well. Workers will also receive $500 signing bonuses for ratifying the agreement.

Teamsters Local 703 is an affiliate of Teamsters Joint Council 25, which represents more than 100,000 hardworking men and women throughout Illinois.

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