Dunkin' Donuts Supplier Wants To Keep Negotiating But Teamsters Call a Halt

BELLINGHAM, Mass., July 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Northeast DCP, a supplier for Dunkin' Donuts restaurants throughout New England, is taking steps to ensure continued deliveries after Teamsters Local 25 today called a halt to months of negotiations, threatening a boycott and other actions.

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Bargaining for a contract covering approximately 180 truck drivers and helpers had been progressing, with tentative agreements reached on 36 issues and others under active discussion.

The negotiations halted over the Teamsters' continuing demand that current employees be forced to pay union dues or face termination. Nearly half of the bargaining unit voted against union representation in the election last summer, and because of this, the Northeast DCP believes employees should have the right to freedom of choice. In a compromise offer, the Northeast DCP proposed mandatory union dues for new employees and agreed to deduct dues from paychecks of current employees who elect to join the union. The Northeast DCP believes this proposal is fair to both current and future employees, but the Teamsters refused to modify its position.

"We have also been bargaining in good faith to reach agreement on other remaining issues, and we call upon Local 25's negotiators to return to the table," said Kevin Bruce, CEO of the Northeast DCP. "Considering the highly competitive pay and benefits that our drivers and helpers receive, combined with the uncertain economy, we believe it's unnecessary and harmful for the Teamsters to disrupt rather than negotiate."

Below are other issues that were under discussion when the Teamsters called a halt to talks:

Wages and Benefits: Under the most current wage proposal made by the Northeast DCP in these negotiations, drivers would earn more than $24 per hour. This is in addition to existing benefits that include:

• A 401(k) with a company match
• A high quality Blue Cross Blue Shield health plan with 80% company contribution toward the cost of premiums (regardless of whether an employee elects individual or family coverage)
• An aggressive incentive pay program

Vacation: As is already true for administrative employees at the company, the Northeast DCP is proposing that drivers and helpers be able to carryover up to five vacation days per year, but that the option to turn unused vacation into cash be ended.

Holidays: The Northeast DCP is proposing that the current practice be maintained, which is to provide an extra day's pay to all drivers and helpers for a holiday. (Since most drivers and helpers work a four-day week, some end up working on the holiday, and some do not.)

Discipline/Discharge: Like many companies, the Northeast DCP has personnel policies that provide standards of conduct for all employees. Our policies include a list of serious offenses that could result in termination. Our proposal to the union is very similar to our existing policies.

The Northeast DCP is confident it is delivering an attractive and highly competitive total compensation package. That package, combined with a comfortable and safe work environment, has been the basis for unusually low turnover rates at the Northeast DCP compared to the industry. Approximately 80% of the drivers in the bargaining unit have been on the job for more than five years, and more than one-third have been employed by the Northeast DCP longer than a decade.

Because of the Teamsters' unfortunate decision to stop talking, the Northeast DCP is prepared to implement contingency plans, if necessary, to ensure that deliveries continue to the more than 2,200 Dunkin' Donuts restaurants in New England that count on these trucks arriving.  

"We remain committed to the bargaining process. We want to reach an agreement that is in the best interests of our employees, the Dunkin' Donuts franchise community, and Dunkin' Donuts customers who rightly expect high quality products at fair prices," said Bruce. "We apologize to anyone who may be inconvenienced by the Teamsters, and we call on Teamsters Local 25 to return to the bargaining table to resolve differences through dialogue, not disruption."

Updated news and our public statements about this issue can be found at the Web site: www.dunkinnegotiations.com.

About The Northeast DCP

The Northeast DCP (NEDCP) is a supplier for Dunkin' Donuts restaurants 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' Donuts, Inc., servicing more than 6,000 Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin Robbins outlets worldwide.

SOURCE The Northeast DCP