(WASHINGTON) – A group of 110 workers at Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits in South Carolina have joined the Teamsters via the card check process.

The Class A drivers, Class B drivers, driver leads, non-CDL drivers, yard hostlers, warehouse associates, warehouse custodians, and warehouse associate leads will be represented by Local 509.

“These workers have seen what their brothers and sisters at Southern Glazer’s facilities across the country have gained through their Teamsters representation and knew they deserved the same,” said Jeff Padellaro, Director of the Teamsters Brewery, Bakery, and Soft Drink Conference. “We are ready to work with this group to negotiate a strong first contract that honors their hard work.”

With the addition of this facility, the Teamsters have organized over 5,000 Southern Glazer’s workers nationwide. Under the card check process, Southern Glazer’s workers in South Carolina chose Teamsters representation by signing authorization cards.

“This victory shows what’s possible when workers make their voices heard and show the power of standing together,” said Brian Clardy, President of Local 509. “We are proud to welcome these new members into our union and look forward to building a stronger future alongside them.”

“Management told us for years that we were the best from a production standpoint, but we never saw the real benefits from it,” said Lyrone Harrison, a warehouse worker and member of Local 509. “We were underpaid and taken advantage of, and something had to be done about it. We are proud to be Teamsters and are ready to fight for a better future.”

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.3 million hardworking people in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. Visit Teamster.org for more information. Follow us on X @Teamsters and on Facebook at Facebook.com/teamsters.

(WASHINGTON) – The International Brotherhood of Teamsters announced today that 100,000 workers have joined the union since March 2022, marking one of the most successful organizing periods in modern labor history and underscoring the growing demand for strong union representation across the U.S. and Canada.

The milestone is the result of an aggressive organizing strategy led by Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien and General Secretary-Treasurer Fred Zuckerman, who made union growth a top priority and invested heavily in organizing, bargaining, and contract enforcement.

“If anyone is still questioning whether the Teamsters are breaking through, they’re not paying attention. We’re negotiating record contracts, building powerful bipartisan coalitions, and organizing more than 100,000 new members,” O’Brien said. “The old complacent guard that ran this union before us spent a decade organizing 50,000 workers, and we’ve doubled that in just four years. You don’t see this kind of growth, energy, or militancy anywhere else in the labor movement. The Teamsters are coming for what our members deserve — so get out of our way.”

The Teamsters’ growth has extended far beyond traditional industries. While the union continues to expand in freight, warehousing, delivery, and logistics, tens of thousands of new members have organized in sectors including health care, public services, cannabis, and Amazon. The union is also expanding through internal organizing in Southern “right to work” states, and negotiating neutrality agreements at employers including DHL, American Red Cross, and Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits.

“There’s no stronger union in North America than the Teamsters. If workers want the best contracts, the highest wages, the most reliable benefits and protections on the job, they need to become Teamsters today and join the 100,000 new members we’ve organized in just four years,” Zuckerman said. “We are protecting one another and holding corrupt, greedy corporations accountable. This is the just the beginning of a brighter future for this organization.”

The organizing surge includes victories at major companies throughout North America, including UPS, DHL, Costco, Sysco, UNFI, the American Red Cross, and hundreds of smaller employers. It also reflects the Teamsters’ continued success organizing younger workers who are driving a new generation of rank-and-file militancy across nearly every industry.

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.3 million hardworking people in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. Visit Teamster.org for more information. Follow us on X @Teamsters and on Facebook at Facebook.com/teamsters.

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