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| Teamsters picketing in Indiana. |
In an inspirational show of solidarity, Teamsters are striking in sympathy with their brothers at US Foods in Streator, Ill. Nearly a thousand Teamsters are refusing to cross picket lines across the country. They stand tall with their brothers in this latest attack on workers by fast-buck artists from Wall Street.
Today in the predawn cold, Teamsters set up new picket lines in Plymouth, Minn. and Fishers, Ind. The lines are not being crossed. In Fife, Wash., workers gave notice that they will honor the picket line on Friday. (See more stunning photos here.)
High winds and driving snow didn't stop two Teamsters from holding the line through the night in Englewood, Colo. The company has been told the picket line will be honored at noon Friday.
Here's today's Teamsters press release describing the latest action:
On Sunday, maintenance workers in Streator struck US Foods in response to the company’s unfair labor practices, which include retaliating against employees for engaging in union activity. US Foods disciplined a Streator employee for being absent while he was in contract negotiations with the company as part of the bargaining committee for Teamsters Local 722.
Yesterday, one of the maintenance workers traveled to St. Louis, Mo. to extend the picket line to US Foods’ distribution center there. In Buffalo, N.Y., Teamsters Local 375 held a sympathy strike at the local US Foods facility, as did Teamsters Local 174 at the Fife, Wash. US Foods warehouse.
Buy these brothers a hot toddy when you're in Denver!
Last night, the striking member of Local 722 traveled to Fishers, Ind. to extend the picket line to US Foods’ local distribution center. In Plymouth, Minn., Teamsters Local 638 began a sympathy strike at the US Foods facility there early this morning.KKR and CD&R, the private equity firms plundering US Foods, began waging war on their own workers when they bought the company four years ago. Said striking US Foods worker Mike Vagasky,
The USfoods Workersunited Facebook page is filling up with messages of encouragement. We bring you a few:I’ve worked at US Foods for 28 years. I don’t want to strike, but these top 1 percent private equity companies have done nothing but harass and intimidate us. As a worker, I’m part of the 99 percent in America and I can’t stand by any more while our jobs are destroyed.
Walking the line in St. Louis.
Randall Mintze Indy local 135 stands up for our workers and our teamsters brothers and sisters love all and we continue to fight
Larry Iannuzzi ...God bless and best of luck. I hope things turn out ok for the men, sooner rather then later.
Hunter Heartshot Detroit supports you!! Word is out!For more information, go to the website, http://www.usfoodsworkers.org/. Or you can post messages of support to the Teamsters Facebook page (trolls, you will be banned). Follow the action on Twitter at @USFoodsWorkers.
