March 7, 2023

Three-Year Agreement makes meaningful improvements for Teamster members

Saturday morning, a group of nearly 200 warehouse workers and CDL delivery drivers at Southern Glazers Wine & Spirits voted to ratify a strong new three-year contract. The new contract covering members of Teamster Locals 174, 58, 231, 589, 690 and 839 across Washington state includes critical language improvements, on top of strong wage increases, pension increases, and a new Teamster medical plan that will improve coverage while putting money back into workers’ pockets annually.

The contract addresses problems plaguing the group, including mandatory forced overtime, discipline, and working on holidays. Strong wage increases not only reward workers for the essential jobs they perform, but will also help attract and retain workers, helping to alleviate some of the overtime members have been consistently forced to perform. The biggest victory by far was moving the group into a Teamster medical plan, which lowers costs and improves coverage for members and their families.

“Beverage warehousing and delivery is a core Teamster industry, and is an incredibly challenging job that deserves to be rewarded, which this contract accomplishes,” said Teamsters Local 174 Secretary-Treasurer Rick Hicks. “These workers have only been Teamsters for ten years, but through their solidarity and commitment to fighting for their worth, they can now proudly say they are covered by one of the strongest Teamster Beverage contracts in the country. This is a major victory we can all be proud of achieving.”

Founded in 1909, Teamsters Local 174 represents 8,600 working men and women in Seattle and the surrounding areas. “Like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TeamstersLocal174.