In a major victory, Sysco workers in West Palm Beach voted to join Teamsters Local 769 in Miami. With 84 drivers in the bargaining unit, the vote for Teamster representation was 66 to 15, an 81.5-percent margin of victory.
“Today, the drivers at Sysco in West Palm Beach stood strong and united and took a bold step by forming their union with the Teamsters,” said Mike Scott, Local 769 President. “The company waged its typical anti-union campaign, but the workers persevered and remained focused. We look forward to working with the drivers to help negotiate a contract that will improve their work lives.”
“The company has cut our wages and treated us unfairly for years,” said Cary Vanasdale, a driver for 28 years at Sysco. “As this vote shows, we are demanding change. There are lots of hugs and a lot of high fives going on right now. It feels great to be a Teamster.”
“This is about respect—the company has made us work more and paid us less,” said Tom Baldwin, a driver for 26 years. “We all worked hard for this victory. Forming our union with the Teamsters was the chance of a lifetime.”
“In recent years, Sysco has been mistreating its workers nationwide and I am so happy to see that the West Palm Beach workers stood up to this,” said Steve Vairma, Teamsters International Vice President and Director of the Teamsters Warehouse Division. “The company spends hundreds of thousands of dollars on union busters, while increasing its profits off the backs of its hardworking employees.”
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