Two Peoria-area unions settle disputes

Staffing, wages main issues in AFSCME talks with City of Peoria

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3464 in January this signed a Tentative Agreement with the City of Peoria, according to Local 3464 Vice President Anthony Wallraven, a 911 dispatcher.

Although details weren’t available at press time, and no ratification vote had yet been set, the union’s biggest achievement was the restoration of increases based on years of service.

“The biggest takeaway for us is that we got our step raises back,” Wallraven said.

The only remaining work is a Memo of Understanding “and language we are working on right now,” he added.

The Local started negotiating Nov. 21 to replace the previous contract, which expired Dec. 31.

Local 3464 represents more than 170 employees under different contracts with the City, the Peoria Civic Center, the Peoria Housing Authority, and the Peoria Public Library.

 

Newly unionized drivers settle 13-hour strike

The December work stoppage by drivers at 10 Roads Express ended with a written agreement to address the workers’ Unfair Labor Practice allegation: unjustly discharging a fellow worker active in the group unionizing.

The employer agreed to apply a Just Cause standard and use a grievance and arbitration procedure, according to American Postal Workers Union field organizer Rich Shelley.

“We got it in writing,” Shelley told the Labor Paper. “The company will treat this just as if we the workers already had a union contract.”

The strike was sparked when Donna Gramm was fired the day after the workers’ lopsided victory Nov. 29, when they voted 53-10 to unionize with the APWU. Hours after her termination, workers walked.

“It was a 13-hour strike,” Shelley said. “They went out at 3 a.m. on Dec. 1, and by 4 that afternoon they settled  with the written pledge about the firing.”

A grievance meeting, and possible arbitration, is expected within weeks, Shelley said, and negotiations over a first contract aren’t yet scheduled.

The 10 Roads Express drivers haul mail throughout central Illinois.

APWU has a Motor Vehicle Services division with more than 1,000 U.S. drivers and mechanics.