Striking truckers used tractor-trailers to dam the exits at New England’s largest wholesale meals distributor Monday and prevented some workers from leaving, leading to as many as 20 arrests, police mentioned.
More than 400 Teamster union members arrived on the Sysco facility in Plympton within the early morning and stopped about 100 workers from leaving, Police Chief Matthew Ahl mentioned in a press release.
Police spent two hours negotiating with picketers.
“After the attempted negotiation to move union members out of the roadway to create a safe passable environment, unfortunately we had to respond by removing members of the crowd who were inciting a hostile picket line,” the chief mentioned.
Sixteen to twenty individuals had been arrested on costs together with disorderly conduct and assault and battery, he mentioned. After the arrests, visitors began to movement safely.
About 300 Sysco drivers represented by the Teamsters Local 653 began their strike Oct. 1 searching for higher pay and advantages. Voicemails searching for remark had been left with union representatives.
Houston-based Sysco, which has distribution services throughout the nation, provides meals to colleges, hospitals, nursing houses and eating places.
A Sysco spokesperson mentioned in a press release Monday that the corporate stays dedicated to reaching a “competitive labor agreement” with Local 653.
“While we are disappointed in the Teamsters leadership’s ongoing decision to have our employees out on strike without letting them vote, we respect their right to do so under the law,” the corporate mentioned. “What we can’t respect is violence, disorderly conduct, intimidation, or threats, on or off the strike line, targeting our employees, vendors, customers, or the public.”
The Sysco warehouse in Plympton, south of Boston, remains to be working with third-party drivers. The facility shares about 13,000 merchandise, in line with the corporate’s web site.
Sysco workers at an organization facility close to Syracuse, New York, had additionally been on strike, however the sides reached an settlement final week.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”