News Updates

(LOS ANGELES) – Drivers, production workers and equipment and maintenance mechanics at Alta Dena Dairy in City of Industry, Calif. ratified their first contract since joining Teamsters Locals 630 & 166 in Southern California in September 2011 through card recognition.

The contract was a result of more than nine months of negotiations between union representatives and the company. Alta Dena Dairy, a Dean Foods subsidiary, had been a non-union facility for more than 60 years until the workers exercised their right to representation on the job.

“Perseverance and teamwork with the network of Teamster locals across Southern California Joint Council 42 Dairy Council led to this victory,” said Michael Bergen, Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 166. “Without the support of the leadership of the Joint Council, these workers would have never received the justice on the job they deserve.”

The five-year contract includes wages near the top of the dairy industry with increases totaling $2.35 over the term of the agreement. The workers will also be enrolled in the Western Conference of Teamsters Pension fund, receive paid sick leave, holiday pay, a seniority structure and strong grievance and arbitration procedures.

“When I heard about all the gains we would receive in this agreement, the only question I had was ‘Where do I vote ‘Yes’?” said Alta Dena Dairy worker Carlos Moran.

When the Alta Dena Dairy workers joined the Teamsters last year, facility became the last of the Dean Foods locations in Southern California and Southern Nevada to become union shops. The Teamsters Union represents more than 550 workers at Dean Foods companies throughout the region.

“There has been a core group of workers who have never given up and have finally reached their goal,” said Randy Korgan, Teamsters Union International Trustee. “It’s great to see more than a decade of hard work from multiple locals came together to strengthen our union and the dairy industry of Southern California.”

The 115 Teamsters Local 463 members who work at Balford Farms in Burlington, N.J., have voted overwhelmingly to ratify a new three-year contract.

“We’re very pleased with this contract. We had no givebacks on anything.” said Robert Ryder, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 463 in Fort Washington, Pa.

The agreement covers members who deliver dairy products, including milk, butter and cheese to restaurants, hospitals, nursing homes and retail establishments throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. The company also has exclusive delivery rights to Starbucks stores.

“This is a great agreement, with wage increases and maintenance of the superior Teamster benefit package,” said John Fogarty, President of Local 463.

“Thank goodness we are Teamsters because we were able to maintain our benefits and keep pace with the economy,” said George Call, a shop steward and delivery driver for Balford Farms, a supplier for Dean Foods.

Call has worked as a delivery driver for Balford Farms for 24 years. He works hard, starting his shift at 2 a.m. and finishing up around noon.

“We’re really pleased with what we got, especially in tough times,” Call said. “It was important we keep our health care and retirement because that’s the first thing that employers go after these days.”

Balford Farms is the region’s oldest privately-owned and operated independent dairy distributor, in operation since 1892.

“Finally. Finally!”

Those were the words of Fidel Adame, a long-time Alta Dena Dairy employee, when he learned that he and 360 of his co-workers became Teamsters on February 25 of this year.

The victory was a long time in the making—nearly seven years. After three attempts to organize, the workers found their voice when they voted 153 to 102 to join the Teamsters. The employees are now represented by Locals 166 and 630, both in southern California.

Mike Bergen, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 166 credits the workers for never giving up and refusing to back down in the face of adversity.

“The support has been fantastic. These workers never lost the spirit and that contributed to a big victory,” Bergen said.

The workers organized to gain respect at work and improve quality of life.

“The people here work so hard, and it seems the company is never happy. They put pressure on us. They don’t respect us,” Adame said. “But now that we’re Teamsters, things are going to change.”

Alta Dena Diary is owned by Dean Foods and was—until the last week in February—the only non-union Dean Foods plant in California. This distinction resonated profoundly with workers at the Alta Dena plant, where out-of-pocket health insurance sums are high and seniority is often ignored.

“There are other diaries around that have the union. They belong to the same corporation, but they don’t pay anything for health insurance and their seniority is respected,” Adame said. “We wanted the Teamsters so we could have an opportunity to achieve these same benefits.”

“Now, for the first time, the major dairies in Southern California will be 100 percent unionized,” said Paul A. Kenny, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 630. “The workers at Alta Dean Dairy understand that people who belong to a union earn higher wages and get better health and pension benefits than non-union workers. They will live better because they work union.”

Locals 166 and 630 will begin the bargaining process soon.

“We are excited to welcome these workers to the Teamster family,” said Randy Cammack, International Vice President and President of Joint Council 42. “We look forward to securing for them the benefits and job security they deserve.”

Valley Milk workers in Strasburg, Virginia have ratified a new contract by an overwhelming 90 percent. The vote took place July 31st.

The 21 employees are represented by Teamsters Local 29 in Waynesboro, Virginia.

John Farrish, Principal Officer and Secretary-Treasurer of Local 29, said he was pleased with the gains in this new three-year contract.

Among the highlights: wage increases over the three years (45 cents in the first year, 55 cents in the second year and 65 cents in the third year); no health care co-pays; and no pension decreases.

“We were thrilled we held the pension contributions steady and there were wage increases,” Farrish said.