After the latest round of contract negotiations between AAA of Northern California, Nevada and Utah and Teamsters Local 665 wrapped up today, Local 665 is blasting company officials for failing to seriously bargain and for disrespecting its workers.
“It is clear after today’s negotiations that AAA of Northern California, Nevada, and Utah has no real intentions to bargain a fair contract for its insurance sales agents,” said Tony Delorio, Principal Officer of Local 665 in San Francisco. “The company has shown its unwillingness to bargain seriously for weeks, but it came to a head today. The company has rejected nearly every union proposal and has failed to consider the workers’ positions, and the company has failed to make any counter-offers.”
As a result, Delorio said, the union “will begin engaging workers to step up the fight for a fair contract.”
“The workers organized for ‘just-cause’ protections and equal opportunity in the workplace,” said Business Agent, Tom Woods. “The sales agents worked hard to build up a successful business, but the company would rather ignore their issues than address them. We have no choice but to ramp up our efforts to win fairness on the job.”
Negotiations began last August shortly after the more than 460 insurance sales agents voted to form their union. The sales agents work at 77 locations in six regions.
Rather than being serious about negotiating, the company has proposed a rule that would, in effect, allow the company to terminate any employee who curses in front of a “member.” Member refers to a current or former member of any AAA club or any current, former, or potential customer.
The company has imposed a two-tier compensation scale that guarantees that newly hired employees will never have the same opportunities as more tenured employees.
The company has made several unilateral changes during the status quo period (contract negotiations period) including adjusting sales goals to meet bonuses because their past practice was to adjust goals “at our sole discretion.”
The company has investigated and terminated an employee in retaliation for protected concerted activity—activities workers may partake in without fear of employer retaliation. Local 665 has filed seven unfair labor practice charges against the company, alleging a series of illegal actions committed by the company. More charges are pending.
“In addition to refusing to bargain over key issues such as ‘just-cause’ and fair compensation for all sales agents, the company has refused to bargain over any of their
unilateral changes,” Delorio said. “This is completely unacceptable.”
The next round of negotiations is scheduled for Jan. 26-27. AAA sales agents should be on the lookout for more information soon. Or call Tom Woods at (415) 828-7852.
