Reinhart Teamsters Overwhelmingly Ratify First Contract

Drivers, Warehouse Workers Secure Strong Agreement That Improves Wages, Benefits, Job Security

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Sep 23, 2014, 04:54 ET

TAUNTON, Mass., Sept. 23, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- More than 230 workers at Reinhart Food Service represented by Teamsters Local Union 653 ratified a first contract, voting by a 2 to 1 margin to approve the collective bargaining agreement.

The workers voted to join Local 653 in April 2013 following the third attempt to organize the drivers and warehouse workers by the union. The other two organizing campaigns occurred prior to Reinhart acquiring the workers' original employer, Agar Supply. Entering negotiations, the unit wanted to improve wages, healthcare and job security at Reinhart.

"When Reinhart came in, management started to arbitrarily change everything without consulting the workers," said Sean Walsh, a 22-year employee and member of the negotiating committee. "It created a lot of uncertainty. People lost their jobs, wages were changed without warning. With this contract, I finally feel we have some real security – it was a huge weight off my mind."

Local 653's efforts were backed by support from Teamsters Joint Council 10 in Manchester, N.H. and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.

"This campaign was a success thanks to a team effort," said Brian McElhinney, President of Teamsters Local 653 in South Easton, Mass. "Joint Council 10 Secretary-Treasurer Dave Laughton, organizer Jeff Padellaro and International Vice President Sean O'Brien played key roles in making sure these workers received the resources and representation they needed to secure this strong first contract."

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Visit www.teamster.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter @Teamsters and "like" us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/teamsters.

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SOURCE Teamsters Local 653