Members of UFCW Local 2D who are employed as sales representatives at Empire Merchants recently won new benefits that address New York City’s congestion pricing program. This program charges drivers to use the roads in Manhattan to reduce traffic during peak hours and improve the public transit system. Empire Merchants is a wine and liquor wholesaler based in Brooklyn, and these sales representatives travel regularly on peak hours in the congestion pricing zone in New York City to see their customers.
In accordance with the collective bargaining agreement between the UFCW Local 2D and Empire Merchants dated November 1, 2023, the parties agreed to meet to discuss and negotiate in good faith the cost impact of the city’s congestion pricing program on sales representatives. After a good faith negotiations, UFCW Local 2D and the employer agreed to the following:
- Empire Merchants will reimburse the sales representatives 50 percent of such qualified fee expenses incurred. This will continue as the city raises pricing.
- Empire Merchants will reimburse sales representatives 100 percent of any fee incurred because of a mandatory company event that takes place within the congestion pricing zone.
“This new price congestion agreement underscores the value of being covered by a union contract,” said UFCW Local 2D President Stephen Booras. “This agreement will take some of the stress and economic pressure off our members when they visit customers or attend company events in New York City.”