U.S. Foodservice Yields to Community Pressure

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International Brotherhood of Teamsters

Aug 20, 2010, 04:23 ET

Chicago Teamsters Win Back Jobs

CHICAGO, Aug. 20 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Teamsters who offload trucks for U.S. Foodservice in Bensonville, Ill. declared victory today after the company backed off of threats to layoff the union workforce at the end of the month. The members of Teamsters Local Union 703 are employed by Labor One, Inc.

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In late July, U.S. Foodservice, the second-largest broad line foodservice distributor in America, announced it would not renew Labor One's contract. But thanks to mounting pressure from community leaders, aldermen and elected officials, U.S. Foodservice backed away from its decision.

"I think U.S. Foodservice cut these guys loose because they are solid union members," said David McLin, Recording Secretary of Teamsters Local 703. "Thanks to the efforts of local leaders like Alderman Ed Smith and a timely editorial by Mary Mitchell at the Chicago Sun-Times, the company thought twice about taking jobs away from a group of hard-working men who have used this job as an opportunity to turn their lives around."

Many of the young men—some with previous felonies—lived in Chicago Housing Authority's Cabrini-Green housing development before being hired by Labor One.

"When Labor One hired me, I was still in Cabrini-Green," said Jermaine Robinson, a ten-year Labor One employee, to the Sun-Times last week. "Tom Samatas [the co-owner of Labor One] gave me an opportunity."

"Every employee at U.S. Foodservice deserves to be treated with respect," said John Williams, Warehouse Division Director for the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. "Congratulations to Local 703 for standing up for its members and fighting to keep good jobs in Chicago."

Mary Mitchell's Chicago Sun-Times column, "Workers left to rot by U.S. Foodservice," can be found at http://www.suntimes.com/news/mitchell/2568086,CST-NWS-mitch05.article.

For additional information visit usfoodserviceworkers.org.

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.

SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters