Teamster drivers and warehousemen at US Foods in San Diego Local 542 have a new contract after a 12-day strike.

Source: Teamsters Local 542

Members ratified a new offer on Tuesday that increased wages, raised the cap on pension diversions, and added new safety language for drivers unloading trailers.

“We saw other US Foods Teamsters winning higher wages over the past couple years. We weren’t happy with the wages the company offered us and we realized ‘we can do this too’,” said TDU member and US Foods member Genaro Ventura. 

Members went on strike after voting down five contract offers.

During the first days of the strike, picket lines were extended to Southern California US Foods facilities in La Mirada and Vista. Production was crippled for the high-volume Mother’s Day holiday weekend.

But five days into the strike the company dug in their heels. They presented a second offer that was only slightly different from the first. Workers voted that contract down too.

“That really fired guys up,” said Ventura. “We saw what the company really thought of us. After that the picket line really picked up and we had supporters turning out from UPS and other shops. All the entrances were covered, 24/7.” 

Members’ resolve paid off. After a nearly two-week strike, the company increased their offer by adding $1.25 more in wage increases over the life of the agreement.

The International Union has successfully struck more than two dozen US Foods facilities since 2022, and organized more than 20 new shops. 

US Foods executives have taken notice that Teamsters are willing to use their power to get strong contracts, giving smaller Teamster US Foods units like San Diego more leverage than they have had in the past. 

The ratified agreement includes: wage $3.50/hr increase in the first year, and $1.50 increase in years two through five; an increase in pension diversion to $0.75/hr, up from $0.50 in the last offer; and a back-of-truck safety MOU that mandates a gap between pallets and the back of the truck bed.

“We won this strike because the members stood up,” said Genaro Ventura. “We built our own rank-and-file member communication network to share information and coordinate turnout. We voted down weak contract offers, took strike action, and won.”