The Teamsters’ strike involving 80 warehouse workers across seven Twin City locations was settled after the union accepted the company’s health care.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN—Around 80 Teamster members employed at seven Murphy Warehouse Company facilities around the Twin Cities have a new contract after being on strike for nearly two weeks.
Teamsters employed by Murphy went on strike on May 15, when the union objected to having union employees have the same health plan as non-union employees.
“This is corporate greed at its worst,” said Tom Erickson, Teamsters Local Union 120 President, when the strike first began. “The costs went down and they are still demanding our members agree to triple their out of pocket? It’s outrageous”
However, less than two weeks after the strike began, the Teamsters agreed to the company’s shifting employees to the same healthcare plan its non-union employees have.
“We are pleased that we were able to reach a positive agreement with the Teamsters Union at the bargaining table today – one that we consider a win for the employees and the company,” the company stated in a press release.
“We have agreed on a plan to move the Teamsters Union employees over to the same health plan offered to all non-union Murphy employees, including Richard Murphy and the entire management team,” the company stated.
“The Murphy health plan for non-union members has not changed in 25 years and the company does not intend to change it. Compared to other company health plans in today’s market, the Murphy health plan is extremely generous, with premiums of $15 for single coverage and $45 for family per biweekly pay period, as well as very low deductibles and out-of-pocket costs.”
The company had offered “substantial wage increases,” as well as a $1,000 signing bonus before the union went out on strike.
On its Facebook page, Teamster 120 boasted that its members “won” the strike.
“The new agreement offsets every penny of in-network healthcare cost increases and every penny of premium increases with wages,” the Teamsters stated.
However, according to Murphy’s press release, the deal reached “is very similar to the one offered before the strike.”
