Jun 30, 2008 9:43 pm US/Central
Local Funeral Home Workers May Go On Strike
Union Workers' Contract Expired Monday Morning
CHICAGO (STNG) ―
Contract negotiations are in the 11th hour between the largest funeral services company in the country and the union which represents employees of six area funeral parlors.
The contract between the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 727 and Service Corp. International, headquartered in Houston, expires at midnight Monday.
Local 727 represents 25 employees at Lauterburg & Oehler Funeral Home in Arlington Heights, Oehler Funeral Home in Des Plaines, Weinstein Funeral Homes in Wilmette and Chicago, Zefran Funeral Home in Chicago and Mount Auburn Funeral Home in Stickney.
The union reports that Service Corp. wants to cut the salaries of funeral directors and chauffeurs by 20 percent.
"They are attacking the dignity and livelihoods of respected members of the local community," Local 727 Secretary-Treasurer John Coli said in a prepared statement. "We hope to avoid a labor dispute, but we're not optimistic."
"If we were to vote on a strike, we would not go off the job immediately," union spokeswoman Leslie Miller said. Union reps have discussed the situation with local clergy and will keep them informed of the progress of the negotiations, he said.
"We are bargaining in good faith and are optimistic we'll reach an agreement that is beneficial to both sides," said Jim Murray, manager of the funeral homes in Arlington Heights and Des Plaines.
The six funeral were owned by Alderwoods Group Inc. which was acquired by Service Corp. in November 2006.
(Source: Sun-Times News Group Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2008. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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