Empowerment was in the air as the new group of Teamsters at Sysco unanimously authorized a strike.

On Saturday, newly organized Teamsters at Sysco voted unanimously to authorize a strike. The group of driver check-in associates, QA inspectors, inventory control and cycle counter associates, recoup specialists, and will call associates won the battle against the company that attempted to thwart their unionization efforts last November. Since then, the group has been fighting to achieve a fair first contract.

Adam Ruble, Cosette Fortune, and Krystal Miller-Parker are ready to strike to secure a strong first contract.

Krystal Miller-Parker, inventory control associate, who has been at Sysco for almost 8 years and stepped into a shop steward role since unionization, commented on the vote. “We unionized because we are striving for better benefits, pension, and wages as we try to achieve fairness across the board. Sysco must know that we are united in solidarity with all of our Sysco co-workers and that we will accept nothing less than a fair contract that respects our hard work and contributions toward this company’s success.”

Healthcare was on the mind of Cosette Fortune, a will call worker who has been at Sysco for over a year. “Health benefits are important for me personally because the costs now are too prohibitive for me to get the healthcare that I need. Sysco is a multi-billion dollar corporation that needs to take care of us, the workers, as we create these profits for them. We are not asking for a lot and no worker wants to strike, but we will if that is what it takes for the company to listen to our demands.”

The new group of Teamsters is predominantly female and will not back down from a fight for a living wage.

A much larger group of Teamster drivers and warehouse workers at Sysco in Seattle who ratified a strong contract with Sysco last September are resolute in their support of these spirited newly-minted Teamsters.

Rowan Griffin, a shop steward who has been at Sysco for 32 years, was present as the voting took place. He has backed the group’s unionizing efforts and expressed words of solidarity as the strike was authorized.

“We’ll be there. If the company refuses to give our co-workers a fair contract, all 275 of us who work in the warehouse or who are drivers will stand with them 100%.”

Rowan Griffin, a warehouse worker, is ready to hold the picket line with his co-workers.

“Seeing this group stand united not only in their union election, but also to unanimously authorize a strike, and continue to be actively engaged is inspiring,” said Paul Dascher, Secretary-Treasurer of Teamster 117. “If every group of workers stands up with similar solidarity for improving their lives and working conditions, we’d see a massive resurgence in the labor movement that will effectively knock down corporate greed in this country. We are looking forward to getting these Teamsters the contract they deserve that respects their work and dignity.”