(HOUSTON) – Delivery drivers working for Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits (Southern Glazer) in the Houston area have voted to join Teamsters Local 988. The majority of the 59-driver unit voted in favor of joining the union.

“I am happy that we won because not only did we join the Teamsters, but the union has negotiated other good contracts at Southern Glazer locations,” said Daniel Watkins, an employee for the past nine years.

Teamster members from other locations of Southern Glazer visited with and gave encouragement to the Houston drivers and were instrumental in the successful vote.

“We had great assistance from members and the leadership of Local 853 in Oakland, Calif.,” said Joachin Galvan, a business agent at Local 988. “For our drivers, hearing about contracts won by Teamsters in other locations of Southern Glazer was important, and I think made a difference in the vote’s outcome.”

“We will support the drivers and work with them to negotiate their contract,” said Robert Mele, President of Local 988. “Having work rules in writing in a collective bargaining agreement brings stability to workplaces – and we look forward to providing that for these Southern Glazer employees.”

The Houston workers join over 64,000 brewery and soft drink workers in the U.S. and Canada who are members of the Teamsters Brewery and Soft Drink Workers Conference. Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Visit www.teamster.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter @Teamsters and “like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/teamsters.

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