Teamsters, Funeral Directors Association Reach Settlement

http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/prnewswire/DCF07329062007-1.htm

Teamsters, Funeral Directors Association Reach Settlement
PR Newswire
More Than 200 Funeral Directors and Drivers Settle Five-Year Contract
June 29, 2007: 02:46 PM EST

CHICAGO, June 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Teamsters Local 727 and the Funeral Directors Service Association (FDSA) successfully negotiated a five- year contract for funeral directors and livery drivers in the greater Chicagoland area.

The Teamsters and the FDSA have successfully negotiated contracts since 1962 without any labor actions. Local 727 has represented Chicago's livery drivers since 1913 and funeral directors and embalmers since 1946. The FDSA, which is an employer association of independent and family businesses, bargains on behalf of 92 Chicagoland funeral homes and livery providers.

"Negotiations are always difficult, but we were able to craft an agreement that keeps the funeral industry profitable and maintains excellent wages and benefits to our members," said John T. Coli, Local 727 Secretary-Treasurer. "While we have our disagreements, we have had a good working relationship with the FDSA and we look to continue building on that relationship."

Terms of the new five-year agreement include:
-- Continued health coverage with no premium co-share
-- Continued participation in the current pension plan
-- Wage increases
-- Increased vacation days and holidays
-- Increased rates for Trade Embalmers

Negotiations with Service Corporation International are ongoing. The contract between SCI and the Teamsters expires June 30 at midnight. SCI broke off from the Association in 2007 after negotiating as part of the FDSA since it entered the Chicago market in 1968. SCI employs more than 80 funeral directors and drivers at 23 funeral homes in the Chicagoland area.

Teamsters Local 727 represents more than 5,000 workers in the funeral and parking industry. It is affiliated with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, which has more than 1.4 million members.

Chicago