News
Associated Milk Producers Join Teamsters Local 471
By 71-to-1, workers at Associated Milk Producers (AMPI) in Paynesville, Minn., nearly unanimously voted to join Teamsters Local 471. The workers are responsible for producing cheese.
“It’s an honor to welcome AMPI workers into our Teamsters family. I’d like to thank them for all of their hard work, and especially thank Local 471 Business Representative Mark Marszalek for everything he did to make this happen,” said Lyndon B. Johnson, Local 471 Secretary-Treasurer. “We’re excited to work together with them on their contract. This is an exciting time for these new members because they will finally have the voice they deserve.”
AMPI is the largest cheese co-operative in the US. For 50 years, AMPI workers were part of an independent union but realized an affiliation with the Teamsters would give them the leverage, resources, and collective power necessary to bargain the best contract possible for their facility.
“This will give us the right to better wages, benefits, and a strong backing for future opportunities,” said George Ehrlichman, a new member of Local 471. “This will also allow our local community members to have the opportunity to join our team. We believe that we matter, hiring locally matters, and supporting our local communities matter.”