Strike Over at Warehouse in Brooklyn Park, New Hope
A strike over healthcare costs involving members of the Teamsters Union at all Twin Cities Murphy Warehouse locations is over. The strike included locations in New Hope and Plymouth.
The company released a statement on May 24 that said both sides reached a positive agreement and the deal was very similar to the one offered before the strike.
“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. Today’s agreement moves us closer to our goal of having all Murphy employees on the same health plan and paying a share of premiums. Murphy requested both of these changes during negotiations and the Teamsters Union agreed to them.” –Richard Murphy, President and CEO
The Call to Strike
Starting May 15, members of the Teamsters Union at all Twin Cities Murphy Warehouse locations protested the company’s current health care contract at locations around the Twin Cities, including in New Hope and Plymouth.
A Teamsters union rep tells CCX news that the primary issue centers on employee health care. The union says the company’s current contract proposal nearly triples employee health care costs, even though the overall cost of their health plan went down more than four percent this year.
Employees say the company did offer a raise but the raise doesn’t cover the cost of the new health care plan.
“We all feel insulted,” says Tracy Blair, Union Steward Local 120. “This is a family operation at least it felt like that. We thought we were being treated as family. With all this going on now, it’s doesn’t feel that way anymore.”
To read the full statement from Teamsters click here.
Murphy Logistics Solutions Responds
Murphy Logistics Solutions responded to the strike with a written statement on Monday morning.
“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. Members of the Teamsters Union currently pay no premium for their health plan.
All Murphy asks is that members of the Teamsters union take the same health plan offered to all non-union Murphy employees, including Richard Murphy and the entire management team. In return, the company has offered to provide a substantial wage increase to union members that will more than cover their health plan contributions, in addition to a $1,000 signing bonus.” –Richard Murphy, President & CEO, Murphy Logistics Solutions
