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Las Vegas Medco workers ratify new three-year contract
Thursday, May 25, 2006(International Labor Communications Association)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 24,
2006
Contact: Lynne Baker,
USW, (615) 831-6782, (cell)
615/828-6169
Las Vegas Medco workers ratify new
three-year
contract
Employees return to work after 49-day
illegal
lockout
Las
Vegas—Local 675
members of the United Steelworkers union (USW)
overwhelmingly ratified a new three-year
contract with Medco Health Solutions, Inc.
(NYSE:MHS) late Tuesday afternoon and are
returning to their jobs after being illegally
locked out for 49
days.
The
ratification comes after approximately 580
pharmacy technicians and support staff were
illegally locked out by Medco on April 5, 2006.
Workers had refused to give up their right to
bargain over
benefits.
The new
contract provides for a medical and dental plan
that cannot be altered or changed during the
life of the contract. Other benefits like life
insurance, accidental dismemberment/disability
insurance and the 401(k) plan are restored. Any
changes in these other benefits have to be
negotiated between the union and
management.
Two
top-level committees were created under the
agreement. One will be co-chaired by USW
International Vice President Fred Redmond and a
representative of Medco. The other is an
executive committee composed of USW
International President Leo W. Gerard and Medco
CEO David B. Snow, Jr. Both
committees will address such topics as
attracting business for Medco, legislation
affecting the pharmaceutical industry,
productivity, quality of work life, and
neutrality and card check recognition at all
Medco
facilities.
The
three-year contract runs from Sept. 1, 2005
through Sept. 1, 2008. Workers will receive a
lump sum of $2,100 upon ratification, an
immediate wage increase of 3.5 percent, another
3.5 percent wage increase this September, and a
final 3.5% in September 2007. In 2007
and 2008, workers also will get $850
lump sum
bonuses.
“Medco’s illegal lockout of
our members brought the labor movement together
and that pressure helped us reach an
agreement,†said USW International Vice
President Fred Redmond. “We urge Medco to
come to a fair agreement with the Columbus,
Ohio, and Tampa, Fla.,
facilities.â€
Negotiations have begun for
approximately 800 members at Medco’s
mail-order pharmacy in Columbus and for
approximately 300 call center workers in Tampa.
The Tampa contract expired on May 20, and the
union and management have agreed to a 45-day
contract extension. The Columbus contract will
expire May
31.
The USW
represents over 5,100 workers at Medco
facilities in Las Vegas, Nev., Tampa, Fla.,
Willingboro, N.J., Columbus, Ohio, North
Versailles, Pa., Fort Worth and Irving, Texas,
and Liberty Lake (Spokane) Washington. For more
information on Medco, visit the USW website:
www.usw.org/rx