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Jason Cadalbert has been an employee of Murphy Logistics Solutions and a member of Teamster Local 120 for 20 years. After two and a half months of negotiations, Cadalbert and other Teamsters are on strike because the companies bargaining proposals are an example of, “corporate greed at its worst.”
Murphy Logistics Solutions is a 115-year-old family-owned, full-service supply chain logistics company based in Minneapolis. The company has 170 employees spread across Minnesota and Missouri. Approximately 70 of the employees are represented by Teamsters 120.
Relations between Teamsters and Murphy have been relatively cordial until recently. Teamsters 120 Business agent Tory Gustafson explains that “we have had a good relationship with the company, the difference this time is that they have brought two high priced attorneys. They are spending money on lawyers and not workers. It’s ridiculous what they are doing.”
In the past workers give up wage increases to guarantee affordable healthcare. Gustafson explained that during the current negotiations, Murphy has proposed tripling health care costs despite documents obtained by Teamsters indicating that health care costs for Murphy have actually reduced by 4%.
The following is a statement from Murphy Logistics signed by President & CEO Richard T. Murphy Jr.
“Unfortunately, we cannot reach an agreement with the Teamsters Union at the bargaining table. Murphy has asked that union members take the company health plan that is offered to non-union employees, and the union has rejected the company’s offer.”
Further stating
“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, including a $1,000 signing bonus.”
Gustafson explained that they have rejected the proposal because the signing bonus is a one time increase and would not cover ongoing healthcare costs.
Cadalbert enjoys working at Murphy as a forklift operated and dock foreman, “I love the work. I come to work with a smile every day.” For Cadalbert and others, such a drastic increase in health care costs is too much, “I don’t have money to pay an increased deductible. It’s just too much. If something bad happens, and I need to go to the hospital, it would hurt me really bad.”
Gustafson is asking that the public call Murphy Logistics and ask management to come back to the negotiating table with Teamsters 120.
Picket lines are set up at various locations:
701 24th Ave SE Minneapolis
4700 Main Street NE Fridley
807 Hamden Ave St Paul
355 8th St E St Paul
905 Yankee Doodle Rd Eagan
5201 Winnetka Ave New Hope
901 Canterbury Road S Shakopee