New Health Benefits ‘Something Everyone Should Have’

Local 700, Local 727 Partner on Premier Coverage for Teamsters

When Teamsters working for the Illinois State Tollway secured a new contract on July 1, 2011, the new health insurance benefits they began receiving were unlike any they’d enjoyed before.

Teamsters Local 700 President William P. Logan and local attorney Chris Schneider negotiated coverage for tollway members under the Teamsters Local 727 Health and Welfare Plan. Some members who were nervous last year about the change have come to realize what it now means for their families.

“It really worked out great,” said Bill Piekarski, a Local 700 member who retired in November 2011 but maintains his insurance. “These benefits are top of the line. It’s truly the best I’ve ever seen and it’s amazing that this type of insurance is available to us.”

The benefit plan requires Teamsters and their families to undergo a free, annual wellness exam to screen for early detection of serious problems.

“With the wellness exam, they found an irregular heartbeat that I would have had no idea about,” said Piekarski. “If it wasn’t for the wellness exam, I don’t think I ever would have found out and I’d be walking around with a time bomb in my chest.”

Piekarski, who has been a Teamster for nearly 30 years, encourages any member who has the opportunity to take part in the Local 727 Health and Welfare Plan.

“This outstanding plan is something we wish all of our members could take part in,” said Becky Strzechowski, Local 700 Secretary-Treasurer. “It’s good for our members, their families and—most importantly—their health and pocketbooks.”

Teamsters Local 700 and Teamsters Local 727 are affiliates of Teamsters Joint Council 25, which represents more than 100,000 hardworking men and women throughout Illinois and northwest Indiana.

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