Teamsters Local 988 has announced that it is preparing for a strike at Sysco in Houston in the coming days.
“Over 430 Sysco drivers, warehouse workers, and mechanics represented by Teamsters Local 988 are preparing to strike for a fair contract after the company abandoned negotiations,” an announcement from the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) website on January 13 said.
The message accused Sysco, a global food service distribution company, of violating federal law, adding that workers were left with no choice but to “walk off the job” starting on Friday, January 17.
“We’ve been bargaining in good faith for months, but the wage package Sysco has proposed is insulting, unrealistic, and fails to reflect the value of our members’ hard work,” the president of Teamsters Local 988, Robert Mele, said in the statement.
“This is a multibillion-dollar corporation exploiting its workers. We’re ready to take a stand against Sysco’s blatant corporate greed. We won’t back down until our members get the contract they deserve.”
The announcement highlighted the potential implications of a strike by Sysco workers.
“Local 988 members deliver food and other products to schools, hospitals, and major restaurant chains in the Houston area, including Houston Methodist Hospitals, Memorial Hermann Hospitals, The University of Houston, The Cheesecake Factory, Jersey Mike’s, Jimmy John’s, Buc-ee’s, and Pappas Restaurants,” the announcement warned. “A strike at Sysco Houston would disrupt vital deliveries and impact the entire community.”
According to the IBT’s statement, Sysco rejected the union’s healthcare proposal and instead pushed a company plan with “high deductibles and poor coverage.” The union also claimed that Sysco’s proposed wage increase was “minimal” for workers who are already underpaid.
“We don’t want to strike, but we can’t accept insulting wages and inadequate health care,” explained Joe Loera, a warehouse steward at Sysco Houston. “We provide essential services to this community, and all we’re asking for is fair pay and affordable health care so we can take care of our families.”
Sysco’s spokesman responded by rejecting the allegations and condemning the union.
“Sysco has been negotiating in good faith for several months with the goal of reaching an agreement by contract expiration on January 17,” the company’s response said. “Sysco is committed to reaching an agreement that rewards our Houston colleagues with generous wage increases and improved benefits while balancing the company’s business needs. The Teamsters’ allegations are false and misleading. Their actions harm our colleagues, their families, and our community partners, including hospitals, nursing homes, and schools.”
The company statement also explained that it had conceded to nearly all of the union’s demands and offered “wage increases in Year 1 of 8.5% for warehouse colleagues and over 9% for delivery partners.”
“Sysco cares about our colleagues, our customers and our community, and our goal is to offer colleagues competitive wages, a supportive environment, and jobs that provide room for growth and development,” Sysco Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer Ron Phillips said.
“This threat to engage in a multi-site strike is part of a coordinated national strategy by the IBT aimed at gaining attention and promoting the interest of the union rather than benefiting its local members,” he added. “Rather than negotiate responsibly to benefit our Sysco colleagues, the Teamsters have chosen to attack our business, prevent our colleagues from enjoying immediate, substantial wage increases, and harm our communities.”
Houston has been the site of major strikes in recent months. In October, Texas longshoremen went on strike at the Port of Houston and were joined by the mayor.
The unionization of workers has increased in recent years in Texas. Around 68,000 Texans joined unions in 2023, creating 586,000 union workers in Texas, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Figures for 2024, which have not yet been made available, are likely to be higher because of continued unionization efforts across the state. Over the past year, Starbucks stores in Denton, Hurst, and Farmers Branch voted to unionize.