More than 275 Sarasota warehouse workers join union

Nearly 280 warehouse workers employed in Sarasota by wholesale grocery distributor United Natural Foods (UNFI) have voted to join Teamsters Local 79, based in Tampa.

"I am absolutely ecstatic to be a part of the Teamsters," Sarasota warehouse worker Ranjel Pineda says in a statement. Pineda is among the 278 UNFI workers who are now among the union’s newest members, according to a statement. 

As America’s largest union, the Teamsters represents 1.3 million workers in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, the release adds. 

"We can't wait to secure these new Teamsters a contract," Director of the Teamsters Warehouse Division Tom Erickson says in a statement following the Oct. 25 announcement that the Sarasota workers voted to join the union.

Two workers on the organizing committee in Sarasota were suspended without pay after Hurricane Milton, according to the statement from the Teamsters. UNFI spokesperson Charles Davis says the company's policy is to not comment on personnel matters, but in this case he says UNFI did offer several services to its staff related to the hurricane.

“Our hurricane response plans included full pay during the time our building was closed due to Hurricane Milton, and after the storm, we provided gas, food and supplies to our associates and their families,” Davis says in an email to the Business Observer. “In addition, our UNFI Assist program has provided grants to associates who have experienced significant life impacts from events such as Hurricane Milton.”

Providence, Rhode Island-based UNFI has more than 28,000 employees.

More than 5,000 UNFI workers nationwide are members of the Teamsters, according to a statement from the union. In May, 80 UNFI drivers in Sarasota also voted to join the Teamsters Local 79.

“Where our associates are represented, UNFI maintains constructive relationships with those unions, and we bargain in good faith to reach agreements that are fair to both sides,” Davis says in an email. “In these agreements, we address wages and benefits, other terms and conditions of employment, and the need for operating flexibility to satisfy customer demands regarding the delivery of our products.”

Since 2022, the Teamsters reports more than 2,000 UNFI workers have voted to join the union.