It takes months of hard negotiations every
four years but reaching agreements and
securing ratifications for the state government contracts always represents one of
the Local’s greatest accomplishments
“Congratulations to all parties involved,”
said J.P. Fyans, Local 916 President. “I was
proud to negotiate with the various business
agents and union members at the bargaining
table and make such gains. We had many
members involved in bargaining, and some at
the bargaining table for the first time. Their
viewpoints and energy were tremendous assets.”
The contracts provide an average 12 percent
wage increase over four years. Some members achieved free health insurance coverage
and, perhaps the biggest gain – all Teamster
working families now have access to better
maternity and paternity paid leave.
“It used to be four weeks total, and it had to
be shared between the mother and the father,” said Fyans. “Arguably, that’s not even
enough for new mothers so, essentially, it
meant new fathers were rarely able to take
leave to care for and bond with a new child.”
The contracts now provide a full ten weeks
of leave for each parent.
“It is a quality of life benefit, and achieving
that for our members is as much a part of
our job as securing wage increases,” said
Fyans. “We’re gratified we were able to
make this happen.”