Negotiations came to a halt on Friday between Teamsters Local 25 and Northeast DCP, a supplier for more than 2,200 Dunkin' Donuts restaurants throughout the New England region. Although tentative agreements had been reached on 36 issues affecting approximately 180 truck drivers, bargaining stopped after the Teamsters' demand that current employees be forced to pay union dues or face termination.
The Northeast DCP believes employees should have the ability to have a choice since almost half of the bargaining unit voted against union representation last summer.
To compromise, the supplier proposed mandatory union dues for new employees and agreed to deduct them from current employee paychecks who elect to join the union. The Teamsters, however, refused to change its position.
Among the issues on the table when discussion was halted were wages and benefits, a 401(k) with company match, health plans, an incentive pay program, vacation, holidays and discipline/discharge policies.
Since the Teamsters' decision to halt talks, the Northeast DCP is prepared to implement contingency plans to ensure deliveries continue to the more than 2,200 Dunkin' Donuts restaurants affected by these decisions.
