Deal ends walkout at Philadelphia Regional Produce Market

Management needed a six-day work week to support operations at a much larger facility in Southwest Philadelphia. The deal permits that and includes a signing bonus and salary increases.

The fruits and vegetables are moving in the Philadelphia region again, now that a five day strike at the Philadelphia Regional Produce Market is settled. The walkout centered on changes needed for their upcoming move to Southwest Philadelphia. [audio:100308TMPRODUCE1.mp3]

The Produce Market will move into a much bigger facility around the end of the year, and those plans had to be included in the new contract. Sonny DeCrecchio is director of the market. He says the new contract addresses the issue of an expanded work week.

“We needed a six-day operation and in the end the union understood that and the employees did, and we are glad because it’s a partnership for the future. We’re proud of this new facility that we are going into and we’re proud to go into it with a union laborforce.”

The union represents everyone from salesman to truck drivers and forklift operators at the market. Rocky Bryan of Teamsters Local 929 says the agreement includes a $500 signing bonus and an hourly increase of 30 cents in the second and third year of the contract. Union members’ health insurance premiums will continue to be paid solely by their employers.