What’s New
Teamsters Reach Settlement with US Foods
Unit Ratifies Contract and Resolves Outstanding Issues
US Foods workers represented by Teamsters Local 722 in La Salle, Ill. ratified a new contract on Monday, December 5th 2011 that resolved the open contract and all outstanding issues.
“As I said before – no one wants to strike and we are happy we were able to get back to work and serve the customers,” said Steve Mongan, President of Teamsters Local Union 722. “On behalf of our members at Local 722 we thank the Teamster US Foods members that showed our members unprecedented support. I truly hope and believe this agreement will pave the way for a new relationship with US Foods.”
“Other Teamster Local Unions have contracts that will be open for negotiations in the coming months, said Jim Hoffa, Teamsters General President. We have been able to settle our US Foods contracts in the past without strikes and anticipate getting back to that in the future.”
Solidarity Day with U.S. Foodservice Tampa Workers
THURSDAY, JULY 1st - WORKERS CALL FOR FAIR, FREE ELECTION IN TAMPA
After a majority of U.S. Foodservice workers in Tampa signed cards demanding union recognition, Teamsters Local 79 in Tampa, Florida filed for an election on May 21. In response, U.S. Foodservice is pulling out all the stops in an effort to prevent these hard-working Tampa employees from voting to join you as Teamster brothers and sisters. U.S. Foodservice wants more time to intimidate workers and to frustrate them into believing there is no hope for getting a good contract.
U.S. Foodservice has:
• Hired the third largest union-busting firm in the nation to stall the process
• Spent upwards of $50,000 to force a long, drawn-out hearing at the labor board
• Flown in U.S. Foodservice executives from headquarters in Rosemont, IL to Tampa to “educate” employees
• Conducted mandatory one-sided, anti-union, large-group meetings
• Conducted anti-union meetings between bosses and individual workers
• Told workers about distorted “risks” of joining the Teamsters
• Posted misinformation all around the warehouse
• Posted huge “VOTE NO” signs around the warehouse
This is all an attempt by U.S. Foodservice to scare its own employees into voting against their right to bargain. A Teamster contract would allow U.S. Foodservice employees in Tampa to enjoy the same benefits and wages held by 4,000 US Foodservice Teamsters across America. These brave workers deserve a contract that forces management to play by the rules and to negotiate fair wages, benefits and working conditions.
Tell U.S. Foodservice: WE DEMAND A FREE AND FAIR ELECTION IN TAMPA NOW
U.S. Foodservice Teamsters in Philadelphia proudly wore stickers in support of U.S. Foodservice employees in Tampa:
USF Tampa Workers Stand Up and Speak Out!
Workers at U.S. Foodservice in Tampa, FL are uniting to stand up for their rights at work. Workers have gone public in their efforts to organize a union with the Teamsters. U.S. Foodservice has already started their misinformation campaign posting various anti-union flyers up in the workplace. Will U.S. Foodservice follow the same path they did in Arizona, breaking federal labor law in an effort to deny workers their protected rights to organize? That didn’t bode well for company executives who were disciplined by the national labor board who forced U.S. Foodservice management to recognize the Teamsters and negotiate a contract for the Arizona workers. Send an email of solidarity to Tampa workers giving them your support! Just send your message (no matter the length) to usfoodserviceworkers@teamster.org.
Support Streator U.S. Foodservice Teamsters
Protect Wage, Benefit, Work Rules Standards for All
U.S. Foodservice is trying to undermine wages, benefits and work rules by forcing Teamsters at U.S. Foodservice Streator, IL to accept a contract that destroys the living standards of these workers and undermines the health care protection of their families. If successful, U.S. Foodservice would have a low-cost alternative to Teamsters U.S. Foodservice workers in MI, MO, WI, IL, and IN. In Streator, IL the company wants to create a discriminatory wage system that would bring warehouse wages down to $13/hour, rollback healthcare and vacation packages, AND rid Streator Teamsters of the right to honor U.S. Foodservice picket lines. They are also pushing an inferior pay for performance plan for drivers. The Teamsters Local 722 contract expired on May 9th and U.S. Foodservice could lock out workers or force them to go on strike. If U.S. Foodservice thinks they can attack Teamsters in one location to undermine the good union standards that we’ve fought for, they’re wrong. An injury to one Teamster is an injury to all Teamsters.
Strength in Unity Wins Great New Contract at U.S. Foodservice San Diego
Teamster Members at Local 542 in San Diego overwhelmingly ratified a 5-year contract yesterday guaranteeing job security, continued yearly Pension and Wage increases and many more important provisions. Committee member Mike West said “This contract provides workers and the company with the flexibility and high standards for our continued growth and success. It was drivers, warehouse and clericals standing together and refusing to be divided that helped us get such a great contract.” The diverse and strong negotiating committee worked countless hours to achieve a multitude of gains on many different levels. Business Agent, Shelly Allsup, says “Local 542 is so proud of the members in this unit for coming together in unity. The negotiation committee represented their co-workers by being the consummate professionals they are and addressing all of the concerns at hand.” Local 542 President, Phil Farias, states “We will be actively working with the company during the implementation of all the new changes”.
U.S. Foodservice Workers United congratulates Teamsters Local 542!
U.S. Foodservice workers around the country have submitted many stories, like the one below. Read more here.
We want to organize!
I have been a driver with U.S. Foodservice for over 10 years. During that time, I have witnessed the management degrade and take advantage of me and my co-workers for years; however it has recently escalated. I now feel it is time to have outside support, intervention, and representation. I would like to request someone from Teamsters contact me. I am one of those people who have to work for a living and I enjoy what I do, however the company's treatment toward drivers and other workers have made me question if I need to remain employed with U.S. Foodservice. I hope to be able to retain my job, but also do not think it is too much to ask to be treated with dignity and respect.” Read more stories here.
Letter To U.S. Foodservice About New CEO
Teamster Warehouse Division Director John A Williams recently wrote to Chair of the Board at U.S. Foodservice (Charles Banks) to pass along some advice from a U.S. Foodservice driver on the new CEO:
“I have been a driver with U.S. Foodservice for almost 25 years. My advice to the new CEO of the company would be to consider a truly new way for management to operate.”
Read the full letter here.
U.S. Foodservice Workers United recently launched on Facebook. Search “USfoods Workersunited” and be our friend!
Breaking News: U.S. Foodservice CEO Bob Aiken has resigned
U.S. Foodservice CEO Bob Aiken has announced his resignation, citing personal reasons. According to press reports Aiken will be going to work at a smaller Chicago based private equity firm called Bolder Capital LLC. The Teamsters Union has tried to work with Aiken in his tenure as CEO to create a win-win situation for U.S. Foodservice and its employees, but there is still a long way to go. The Teamsters Union hopes to work with the new CEO for a bigger, better U.S. Foodservice. Charles A. Banks, chairman of the Board of Directors of U.S. Foodservice and partner at private equity firm CD&R, will be heading the search process. Let us know what you think the new CEO should do here.
Contact us if you have an update that you would like posted here. And please continue submitting your stories. We want to know what’s going on with favoritism, worker safety, production standards, routing, new organizing and whatever else you want to share. We will continue posting submissions about once a month.
Thanks!
U.S. Foodservice Workers United Team
