March 16, 2009: Teamsters in Northern California are fighting to save their jobs after Northern Distribution announced it will replace 45 Teamsters with nonunion drivers.

Northern Distribution delivers groceries to Foods Co. stores throughout Northern California,. Foods Co. is dropping Northern Distribution as of March 28 and bringing in Scully Transportation Systems, a low-wage nonunion operator.

Scully does not intend to hire the drivers from Northern—a move that would put 45 Teamsters who have serviced these stores for years out of work.

Teamster members will be leafleting at Foods Co. stores to inform consumers about the corporate greed that is threatening to add dedicated drivers to the unemployment rolls.

Foods Co. stores are part of the same grocery chain as Ralphs, which employs thousands of Teamsters in California. Ralphs is a subsidiary of Kroger—a major Teamster employer.

The International Union could strengthen this struggle for justice by Local 439 Teamsters involving Teamsters at Ralphs and Krogers throughout California—and if necessary, nationally.

Support Leafleting This Saturday

Teamsters Local 439 is organizing informational leafleting at the Foods Co. on 3620 Northgate Boulevard in Sacramento on Saturday, March 21 at 11:00 a.m.

“I’ll be there to show my support to my brothers and sisters,” said James Nunez, a Local 150 shop steward at the C&S Warehouse in West Sacramento.

“Teamsters are going to be in front of the stores leafleting the customers until the right thing is done by these drivers. We’re not going to back down or sit back while our brothers and sisters are being put out of work,” Nunez said.

TDU urges all Northern California Teamsters to join the informational leafleting in support of Local 439 members. An injury to one is an injury to all.

Click here to download an informational leaflet.