Body Removal Drivers Awarded More Than $46,000 in Back Pay

Local 727 Wins Arbitration Decision for Wrongfully Terminated GSSP Workers

An arbitrator on November 17, 2011, awarded two former GSSP employees more than $23,000 apiece in back pay following Teamsters Local 727’s fight against their wrongful termination.

Local 727 first organized 16 drivers in 2008 with GSSP, a private company contracted with the City of Chicago to transport bodies to county morgues following murders, accidents and natural deaths. GSSP has since closed, but the arbitration decision this month ensures if the company re-opens, it must reinstate two Local 727 members to their former full-time positions with seniority rights.

“It was abundantly clear that they were fired unjustly, and the union did not hesitate to take on their case,” said John Coli Jr., President of Local 727. “We fought hard every step of the way for these hardworking members.”

Teamsters Michael Lopez and David Abouassi were terminated on February 15 for alleged theft the company could not prove, and the union took their case to arbitration. The awarded back pay and benefits are from the period of February 15-August 31, when GSSP ceased operations.

In June, Local 727 also successfully fought to reinstate another GSSP removal driver, Daniel Romero, after he was unjustly terminated.

Teamsters Local 727 is an affiliate of Teamsters Joint Council 25, which represents more than 100,000 hardworking men and women throughout Illinois and Indiana.

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