Meeting Details

• Date: Sunday, September 27, 2026
• Time: 8:30 AM–10:30 AM
• Format: Virtually on Zoom

Financial Review

The President presented the current financial report and reviewed expected monthly deposits. Financial figures are intentionally redacted from the public minutes and remain available to authorized officers and members through the appropriate union process.

Membership

DWA currently represents 298 members. An additional 8 employees are expected to become eligible for membership after successfully completing their probationary periods.

Membership has recovered substantially from the temporary layoff-period count of 256 as school-route drivers returned and newly eligible employees completed probation.

Perfect Attendance

• The August Perfect Attendance winners have been posted on the DWA website.
• Union and company attendance checks will be distributed during the same week to reduce confusion about when each check is available.

Active Grievances and Labor-Management Matters

The Union confirmed that active grievances remain open unless they are resolved or formally withdrawn. Current matters include:

• Discipline and contractual concerns involving cell-phone use and in-truck camera enforcement.
• Proper posting of available routes and consistent access to route information.
• Load-checking expectations when warehouse employees have already picked, checked, clamped, and loaded a truck.
• Reported denials of personal days on Mondays and Fridays. Members described inconsistent treatment, including situations in which sick time was substituted. The Union maintains that a blanket Monday/Friday restriction is not supported by the applicable language and will continue seeking a correction.

Jumper Step-Down Pay

Members held a substantial discussion about the pay impact when a jumper returns to a regular driver position. The Union explained that the existing memorandum was intended to prevent short-term jumpers from immediately retaining premium pay, but the present interpretation can disproportionately affect employees who have served as jumpers for many years.

The Union has proposed alternatives and will continue negotiating for a fair solution that recognizes long-term service, responsibility, family impact, and the physical demands of the position. Because existing written language is central to the dispute, the Union will continue pursuing a negotiated resolution while carefully evaluating any arbitration risk.

Driver and Warehouse Load Accuracy

Members discussed management’s warning that write-ups and suspensions may follow inaccurate picking, checking, and loading in Jersey City. Members agreed that load accuracy must improve, while emphasizing that accountability should reflect the actual responsibilities of the picker, checker, clamper, loader, and driver.

• Members raised concerns about training gaps, turnover, and the absence of a final check for certain products.
• Drivers and warehouse members agreed that division between groups weakens the Union and that the issue should be addressed collaboratively.
• A proposal was supported to preserve and share loader/clamper sheets for a trial period so drivers can see the information warehouse employees receive and both groups can identify communication gaps.
• A future warehouse role-and-pay progression system was discussed. The proposal would connect higher responsibility, training, and accountability with appropriate pay differentials. This remains a proposal for future development and bargaining.

Member Questions and Follow-Up

401(k) Plan Fees

A member asked about a fee appearing on a 401(k) statement. The Union recommended obtaining the exact plan documentation and will help determine whether the charge is an ordinary provider or advisory fee and which party is responsible for it.

Health Insurance

Members raised concerns about plan quality and asked whether the insurance provider could be changed. The Union explained that it can enforce the employer’s contractual contribution and cost-sharing obligations and request any audit permitted by the agreement, while provider selection remains subject to the governing agreement and the company’s plan administration.

Website, Communication, and Member Resources

• Representatives recently visited both dispatch locations to help members register for website access and email notifications.
• The Union will continue in-person registration assistance for members who need help with technology or language access.
• Beginning with future meetings, registered members will receive an email reminder at approximately 7:00 PM on the evening before the meeting.
• The website provides meeting minutes, the current Contract and Bylaws, the Goodwill Benefit Fund application, Driver License Reimbursement, route opportunities, and other member resources.

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Goodwill Benefit Fund
Constitution and Bylaws
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Union Dues and Operational Updates

• Representatives reviewed the current $8 dues amount and the $10 amount stated in the Constitutional Bylaws. Any implementation will follow the governing documents, applicable democratic procedures, and legal guidance.
• Both locations continue to experience driver shortages, truck-maintenance concerns, FMLA-related absences, injuries, and product shortages that can affect routes and workloads.

Route Opportunities and Transfer Rights

The Union reviewed the importance of posting route opportunities from both dispatch locations. Based on the contractual language discussed, union members may bid on posted routes regardless of their current dispatch location, with a transfer occurring if the route is awarded. Publishing route opportunities online also helps members who are on leave or vacation and creates a consistent record of postings.

Union Unity and Future Bargaining

A repeated theme of the meeting was the need for drivers, warehouse employees, all shifts, and both locations to operate as one Union. Members emphasized that stronger communication, documented operational performance, and cooperation between groups will strengthen the membership before the next round of negotiations.

Safety Shoe Reminder

• The current $100 safety-shoe credit expires October 14, 2026.
• A new credit will begin on October 14.
• Members may also purchase qualifying safety footwear independently and submit the receipt for reimbursement of up to $100, provided the footwear meets company safety requirements.

Constitutional Bylaws Discussion and Vote

The proposed amended DWA Constitution and Bylaws were presented to the membership during the August 2026 meeting and reviewed again during the September meeting. Members discussed clearer officer duties, accountability, stronger governance, expanded voting access, and the proposed participation threshold for future applicable votes.

Members also emphasized the importance of broad notice and meaningful access. The Union reviewed its in-person outreach, website postings, email notifications, and plans for secure online and mail-ballot options. Because this vote was conducted under the prior bylaws, the proposed 10% participation threshold was not required for this vote.

When Zoom’s native polling option was not available, the Union distributed an anonymous Google Form through the meeting chat. Members could select Approve, Do Not Approve, or Abstain.

Follow-Up Actions

• Continue negotiations concerning jumper step-down pay.
• Continue pursuing the Monday/Friday personal-day dispute and other active grievances.
• Use loader/clamper documentation to identify communication and training gaps.
• Follow up with management regarding training, final checks, and fair assignment of responsibility for load errors.
• Review available 401(k) documentation concerning the questioned plan fee.
• Continue member registration and email-notification outreach at both locations.
• Publish the adopted Constitution and Bylaws for member access.