SAN FRANCISCO, California – Drivers with the largest natural and organic food supplier in the United
States, United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI), have chosen representation by Teamsters Local 853 in Oakland. The drivers based out of Gilroy, Calif., transport supplies for UNFI to major clients like Whole Foods, Amazon, Genentech, Sprouts and Google.
“We’re excited to welcome UNFI drivers to the Teamsters. There is a trend across the country of UNFI workers joining together and seeking Teamster representation,” said Dennis Hart, Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 853. “As companies become increasingly interconnected, as with Amazon’s purchase of Whole Foods, it’s important that unions strategically organize and workers unite to better their working conditions.”
In July 2017, New York drivers at UNFI’s new Hudson Valley distribution center ratified their first contract, increasing wages, and winning overtime pay as members of Teamsters Local 445. UNFI workers represented by Teamsters Local 117 in Auburn, near Seattle, made great gains in June 2017 when they ratified a contract which included a pension for the first time. UNFI warehouse and production workers in Iowa at Local 238 and New Jersey at Local 810 also ratified contracts in the summer of 2017.
