News

Teamsters threaten strike against Dunkin' Brands distributor

June 29, 2010

A Boston-based union that has protested and threatened boycotts against Dunkin' Donuts over a contract dispute with one of its distributors is now talking strike.

"The Dunkin' Donuts' distributor is trying to break the Teamsters through bad faith negotiations, and strike preparations are under way," said Teamsters Local 25 president Sean M. O'Brien in a news release.

The Teamsters Local 25 has accused Northeast DCP, a franchisee-owned cooperative and the Dunkin' Donuts' largest supplier, of stalling over signing a new contract agreement. At issue is the nearly 200 truckers and other workers who joined the union last year but have yet to sign a contract with the co-op. The Teamsters said previously they fear the co-op is delaying signing of the new contract in order to vote for decertification of the union in August.

"We've been in talks for almost a year and the company refuses to talk about the basic issues of affordable health care and Union security," O'Brien said. "Our members are fed up. America is going to be running on fumes, not Dunkin' Donuts."

Dunkin' Donuts does not own the distribution company. The co-op denies using stall tactics and has participated in negotiations.

Now, Local 25 is making strike preparations with the intent to shut down Dunkin' Donuts' operations throughout the Northeast since the 200 Teamster drivers and helpers are critical to the company's supply distribution system. The Teamsters are preparing picket signs and finalizing plans for a national boycott of Dunkin' Donuts to protest NEDCP's stall tactics.

O'Brien said he has held 22 bargaining sessions with the company since October 2009. According to a news release, the Teamsters accuse NEDCP of refusing to negotiate affordable healthcare and Union security and instead having hired a union-busting firm. Local 25 attempted to bargain most of the day Monday until an agreement was reached, but said NEDCP refused.

Northeast DCP said in a separate statement that it is calling for Teamsters Local 25 to accept additional negotiation dates that have been offered and call off threats to strike.

The co-op members said the union incorrectly claims negotiations are stalled and that the DCP is refusing to talk about issues such as healthcare and union security.

From the statement:

The truth is that 32 tentative agreements on issues have been reached, including financial ones such as 401K, pension, and incentives. All other issues, including healthcare and union security, are on the table. We have met regularly with the union, and at the most recent bargaining session, the Northeast DCP offered two specific July dates for continued bargaining. Teamsters Local 25 declined to accept them and issued a public strike threat instead.

The negotiations underway are for an initial contract that would cover truck drivers and helpers. Arriving at the language of a first contract is a complex and usually lengthy process that requires meaningful negotiation. We remain committed to this process.

We are taking steps to ensure that scheduled deliveries to Dunkin' Donuts stores in New England will continue smoothly in the event that Teamsters Local 25 follows through on its threat to strike.

The Northeast DCP continues to bargain in good faith to reach an agreement that is in the best interests of our employees, Dunkin' Donuts franchisees and, ultimately, Dunkin' Donuts consumers.

Bellingham, Mass.-based Dunkin' Donuts Northeast DCP is a cooperative owned by regional franchisees. The company delivers products and ingredients to Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin Robbins stores throughout New England. The NEDCP, with nearly 500 employees, operates under the National DCP LLC (NDCP), which was established in 2005 to unify both the buying power and manpower of four existing regional centers.

The NDCP is the exclusive supply chain partner for Dunkin' Brands Inc., servicing more than 6,000 Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin Robbins outlets worldwide.

Update 7/1/10:Teamsters Local 25 has issued a Friday deadline for Northeast DCP to return to the bargaining table. Meanwhile, the union continues with strike preparations and is considering a national boycott. According to a Local 25 news release, NEDCP has hired a private security firm, requested around-the-clock police details, installed fences around the property, contracted replacement workers and threatened workers about being permanently replaced.