Negotiations

Barneys distribution center negotiations—Updates

Update #1: After three sessions, focus on health insurance

Three bargaining sessions have been held between union and management negotiators for a new contract between Local 340 and the Barneys distribution center in Lyndhurst, New Jersey. The original contract was set to expire on February 28, but has been extended twice as both parties contend with difficult and contentious issues in these talks. The second extension took the contract to an April 30 expiration date.

The union team is led by Business Agents Elba Liz and Pedro Galarza and Barneys members Eileen Camejo, Raquelita Guzman, Rosaura Garces, Maria Garcia and Jorge Miranda. Key issues in these negotiations include wages, pension, vacation and paid time off.

But it is health insurance that has emerged as the biggest sticking point on the way to a new agreement. Rising healthcare costs have created a problem as the cost of maintaining current benefit levels as skyrocketed. The last negotiation session, on March 19, was devoted entirely to this issue, and contract talks have been on hold as negotiators research other benefit plan possibilities.

Back to Negotiations page