Saputo Dairy Workers Vote to Join Teamsters Local 317
Source: The DairyNews
Workers at Saputo's Dairy have overwhelmingly voted to affiliate with Teamsters Local 317, marking a significant step toward enhancing their workplace rights and conditions.
Peter Finn, Teamsters Western Region International Vice President and Director of the Food Processing Division, applauded the workers' resilience and commitment to securing a better future. "Their determination in the face of challenges is commendable, and we are dedicated to supporting their efforts to achieve a successful outcome," Finn stated.
Duane Wright, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 317, emphasized the broader implications of a robust collective bargaining agreement. "Securing a strong agreement at Saputo's facility could be transformative, benefitting not only the employees but also the entire local community through potential economic uplift," Wright noted.
This latest organizing victory adds to a string of recent successes for the union in the dairy sector, including securing significant agreements in California, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. The Teamsters already represent employees at several other Saputo facilities, including the Friendship, N.Y. plant, where workers previously secured a favorable contract following a strike in 2021.
Ethan Tomah, a mechanic at Saputo's Delhi plant, expressed optimism about the future following the unionization. "Joining the Teamsters unites us in our pursuit of fair treatment and improved working conditions. We're looking forward to a promising future with the support of a strong union," Tomah commented.
Teamsters Local 317 serves a diverse group of workers across the food supply chain, logistics, public sector, and various crafts in upstate New York, advocating for their rights and better working conditions.
Duane Wright, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 317, emphasized the broader implications of a robust collective bargaining agreement. "Securing a strong agreement at Saputo's facility could be transformative, benefitting not only the employees but also the entire local community through potential economic uplift," Wright noted.
This latest organizing victory adds to a string of recent successes for the union in the dairy sector, including securing significant agreements in California, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. The Teamsters already represent employees at several other Saputo facilities, including the Friendship, N.Y. plant, where workers previously secured a favorable contract following a strike in 2021.
Ethan Tomah, a mechanic at Saputo's Delhi plant, expressed optimism about the future following the unionization. "Joining the Teamsters unites us in our pursuit of fair treatment and improved working conditions. We're looking forward to a promising future with the support of a strong union," Tomah commented.
Teamsters Local 317 serves a diverse group of workers across the food supply chain, logistics, public sector, and various crafts in upstate New York, advocating for their rights and better working conditions.
