Thousands of Teamsters union members held practice pickets at Dairy Farmers of America facilities across the country last week as negotiations intensify over 19 labor contracts set to expire May 5.
The demonstrations took place at DFA locations in Englewood, Colorado; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Salt Lake City, Utah; and throughout Southern California. Workers are seeking higher wages, improved benefits, automation protections, and standardized contract expiration dates.
“We demand a fair national standard at DFA. Our members work hard and deserve strong contracts that protect workers and reflect the crucial role they play in the supply chain,” said Lou Villalvazo, chairman of the DFA Teamsters National Negotiating Committee and secretary-treasurer of Teamsters Local 630.
The union represents approximately 2,000 workers across 35 DFA locations currently involved in bargaining. After the May 5 deadline, the Teamsters can call for work stoppages at any of these facilities.
DFA, North America’s largest dairy cooperative, supplies nearly one-third of all milk in the United States, according to union officials.
“This employer has more than enough resources to reach fair agreements,” said Jesse Case, director of the Teamsters Food Processing Division. “It’s in the best interest of the co-op to settle these agreements quickly.”
Key worker demands
The Teamsters are pressing for several improvements in the new contracts, including:
- Higher wages
- Enhanced healthcare coverage
- Better retirement benefits
- Protections against job loss from automation
- Alignment of contract expiration dates
Randy Tidd, a Teamsters Local 455 member who works at DFA subsidiary Meadow Gold in Englewood, emphasized the unity among different worker classifications.
“We’re out here because DFA needs to know that drivers, warehouse staff, and production workers are united in this fight,” Tidd said. “We’re ready to do whatever it takes to get a good contract.”
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, founded in 1903, represents over 1.3 million workers across the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.
