About 200 warehouse workers are picketing outside US Foods in west Phoenix, and officials say it is one of 10 Arizona locations where workers are pushing back against the food-service provider.
Members of the Teamsters Local 104 went on strike Thursday evening. The union is accusing US Foods of disciplining members more severely than non-members and conducting contract negotiations in bad faith.
Members have been working for months without a contract, said Josh Graves, business representative for Teamsters Local 104.
“Their president went around telling the guys that he was going to break the union and Phoenix was going to be made an example of,” Graves said.
US Foods issued a statement Friday afternoon:
“We’re disappointed that our represented employees at our Phoenix Distribution Center have chosen to take these actions, despite our ongoing efforts to work with the union to reach an agreement. Our priority right now is on ensuring that we can continue to serve our customers with minimal disruption. We remain open to having productive negotiations with the union to reach resolution in this issue.”
The company’s website says it delivers food to restaurants, hospitality, healthcare, government and educational institutions.
Updated at 2:29 p.m.
