Headline News
Sysco Workers in Idaho Join Teamsters Local 690
On March 2, 2017, warehouse workers at Sysco in Post Falls, Idaho voted 19-8 to join Local 690 in Spokane, Washington.
The victory comes on the heels of two victories last year at Sysco in West Palm Beach and a third at Sysco subsidiary FreshPoint in Pompano Beach, all in Florida.
“It feels great to be a Teamster, something many of us have wanted for years,” said Devon Horner, who has worked at Sysco for more than 11 years. “Four years ago the company took away our pension plan and our health care deductible has gone from $200 to $1,500. We’ve also only had a total raise of 55 cents per hour over the past four years.”
“We’re elated,” said Dan Hopkins, a 12-year employee. “One of my main issues is the company taking the pension away. We went to a 401(k) plan but at my age there’s not enough time to catch up. I also have a $4,000-a-year health care deductible and I had to pay thousands of dollars out-of-pocket last year. Also, while Sysco increased the starting pay, we’ve only had a 55-cent per hour raise over the past four years.”
“It was a great win and we had to face a tremendous anti-union push from the company during the last week,” said Val Holstrom, Local 690 Secretary-Treasurer. “I want to thank all our members from other companies who held signs of support, our Business Agent Larry Kroetch and Chris Rosell from the International Union Organizing Department.”
“The group of 30 warehouse workers joins the 54 drivers in Post Falls and other locations who are already members of Local 690,” Kroetch said. “We’ve represented the drivers for 12 years.”
“I congratulate the Sysco workers in Post Falls, who stood up to the company’s actions and the lack of respect they show toward its employees,” said Steve Vairma, Director of the Teamsters Warehouse Division. “I look forward to working with the local to help these workers win a strong first contract.”