More than 300 truck drivers at New England’s largest wholesale meals distributor have gone on strike, elevating considerations about disrupted meals deliveries to varsities, hospitals and nursing properties.
The drivers represented by the Teamsters Local 653 took to the picket line at Sysco Boston early Saturday looking for higher pay and advantages.
“Management took their abhorrent anti-worker treatment to new lows, giving a take-it-or-leave-it final offer that strips their essential workers of high-quality union health insurance, denies members of a secure retirement with a union pension, and offers meager wage increases amid drastically rising inflation,” the union mentioned in a Facebook submit.
Last week, about 230 drivers at a Sysco facility close to Syracuse, N.Y., additionally went on strike alleging unfair labor practices.
Sysco mentioned in a press release that the Massachusetts drivers make about $110,000 yearly on common, and that it has supplied a wage improve of 25% over the lifetime of the contract. The Houston-based firm additionally mentioned it’s providing extra well being care choices at decrease prices in comparison with the present plan.
“The work stoppage is unnecessary and union leaders have taken this action with little regard for the damage it will cause to our associates and our customers,” the corporate mentioned.
In New York, the union didn’t permit drivers to vote on the corporate’s supply, which included wage will increase and a $2,500 signing bonus, Sysco mentioned.
Tara Gregorio, president of the Massachusetts Senior Care Association, an trade group representing about 400 nursing properties and assisted residing residences, mentioned Tuesday that the truckers’ strike has raised considerations amongst some members however that she has not heard of any missed deliveries.
Nursing properties are additionally ready to adapt, looking for alternate sources for meals as they did throughout the coronavirus pandemic and up to date provide chain slowdowns, she added.
“We’re hoping that the two sides can come to some type of an agreement very quickly,” she mentioned.
The Sysco warehouse in Plympton, south of Boston, continues to be working 24/7 with third-party drivers and hopes to be as much as 50% of regular capability by Wednesday, the corporate mentioned. The facility shares about 13,000 merchandise, in line with the corporate’s web site.
Sysco, which additionally providers eating places and sports activities venues, has distribution services throughout the nation.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”