More than 130 US Foods Teamsters in Chicago’s Local 705 have won a Tentative Agreement on a new contract after three weeks on strike and nationwide picket line extensions.

US Foods agreed to significant wage increases, enhanced health benefits, higher pension contributions, and enhanced safety measures. Members gave up no concessions and defeated a company demand to make it easier to fire drivers for accidents.

“This job is physically and mentally intensive,” said Tito Sanchez, a US Foods member in Local 705. “We need good healthcare and a pension that lets us retire in dignity.”

Drivers voted unanimously to authorize a strike if the company failed to deliver a fair contract by the December 29 contract expiration.

On January 8, Local 705 simultaneously launched a strike at the company’s Bensenville, IL facility and picket line extensions in over 20 cities with solidarity and support from the IBT Warehouse Division.

This is the second Teamster strike in less than two months where aggressive picket line extensions led to a union victory.

In December, 1,100 DHL Express Teamsters at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport (CVG) won their first contract after extending picket lines to over a dozen cities, including Chicago.