Over 400 Warehouse Workers, Drivers Demand Fair Contract in Bay Area

(SAN FRANCISCO) – More than 400 Teamsters at Sysco San Francisco have voted unanimously to authorize a strike if the company refuses to deliver a fair contract. Drivers and warehouse workers are demanding wage increases, benefits, and working conditions that match or exceed standards already set by Teamsters at other food service providers in the Bay Area.

“San Francisco is one of the most expensive places to live on earth, and we need a contract that keeps up with inflation,” said Andy Gonzalez, a driver at Sysco and member of Teamsters Local 853. “None of us want to be on strike, but it is time for management to come to the table with a serious proposal. Anything less will result in us hitting the picket line.”

Local 853 has recently secured major organizing victories at Sysco’s top competitors. In February, workers at VISTAR, a subsidiary of Performance Food Group (PFG), voted overwhelmingly to join the union. Soon after, newly organized Local 853 members at US Foods waged a multi-week strike that secured a strong first Teamsters contract.

“A few years ago, Sysco stood alone as the only unionized food service provider in the Bay Area. That is no longer the case,” said Steve Beck, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 853. “Their competitors are now Teamsters shops too. Sysco cannot lowball our members anymore by hiding behind nonunion competition. We demand a contract in line with what other Teamsters in this industry have already won.”

The vote by Local 853 members is the second major strike authorization taken by Teamsters at Sysco in recent weeks. Last week, more than 270 members of Local 162 in Portland voted by 99.5 percent to authorize a strike ahead of their contract expiration on October 13, 2025. If Sysco refuses to reach fair agreements, the company could face a major labor dispute involving nearly 800 workers across the West Coast.

Sysco is one of the largest and most profitable food service companies in the U.S. In 2024, the company reported $1.95 billion in net profits, an increase of more than 10 percent from the year prior. The strike authorization vote empowers Local 853 to call a work stoppage after the contract expires on Oct. 31, 2025.  

“Sysco has absolutely no excuses to offer anything less than a contract that puts Local 853 members on par with what other Teamsters in the Bay Area and across the country have won,” said Tom Erickson, Director of the Teamsters Warehouse Division. “Make no mistake — if Sysco fails to do right by these workers, they will face the power of Teamsters solidarity.”

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.3 million hardworking people in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. Visit Teamster.org for more information. Follow us on X @Teamsters and on Facebook at Facebook.com/teamsters.

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