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Starbucks on Strike, Teamsters Strike Win & Pilot Picket

Alec Wilcosky
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Here's what you need to know this week:
 

 


 

Teamsters Drivers at Breakthru Beverage Win Strike, Allegiant Pilots Picket

Florida Teamsters have been making progress organizing new unions and winning new contracts with militant action. Earlier this year, Teamsters drivers struck 10 Roads Express across the country, including in Tampa, Miami, and Jacksonville. After four months, that strike was settled. See below another successful and to learn about an ongoing contract fight for pilots at Allegiant Airlines.


 

Breakthru Beverage

See the full press release here.

After months on the picket line, 160 Teamsters have won their strike against Breakthru Beverage at facilities throughout Florida. Members voted today to ratify a strong first contract that will protect and reward drivers in Tampa, Fort Myers, Jacksonville, Orlando, Pensacola, and Tallahassee exactly 400 days after voting to join the Teamsters Union.

The three-year contract delivers major wage increases, improved paid leave, and key union protections, including seniority protections and a guaranteed 40-hour work week.

“Breakthru Beverage picked a fight with the wrong union,” said Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien. “For 400 days, these drivers stood on the line, every single day, and never once backed down. The company tried every dirty trick to divide our members, but we didn’t flinch. Our members didn’t give in. And today, they’ve won. Let this be a warning: if you try to test the resolve of Teamsters, you will always fail.”

“I congratulate the members and locals across Florida who made this hard-earned contract victory possible,” said Jeff Padellaro, Director of the Teamsters Brewery, Bakery, and Soft Drink Conference. “Our members will return to work with their heads held high and their solidarity stronger than ever.”

Breakthru Beverage is one of the largest beverage wholesalers in North America, operating in 15 states, as well as Canada and the District of Columbia. The Teamsters represent thousands of workers in the wine and liquor industry, including hundreds at Breakthru locations nationwide.

“Winning this strong Teamsters contract is about security, respect, and knowing our hard work truly matters,” said Yuniel Sancillena, a 10-year driver at Breakthru Beverage and member of Local 79. “This victory shows the power of standing together as one union. This is only the beginning!”

 


 

Allegiant Airlines Pilots

See the press release from Teamsters below. See also reporting from the Orlando-Sanford International Airport picket by McKenna Schueler.

Allegiant Air pilots represented by Teamsters Local 2118 held a coordinated, nationwide informational picket today at all 22 crew bases nationwide, calling on the company to agree to a contract that values their contributions and provides industry-standard compensation.


 

Today’s action comes as Allegiant continues to pour millions of dollars into failed resorts, stadium deals, and entertainment ventures, all while seeking unacceptable quality-of-life concessions at the bargaining table — including proposals that undermine seniority, weaken scheduling protections, and leave Allegiant pilots up to 50 percent below their peers in compensation.

“Allegiant executives have spent years throwing away money on one failed venture after another while the pilots who keep this airline flying still don’t have the respect they deserve,” said Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien. “The company is clinging to concessionary demands, delaying progress, and gambling with the future of an airline built on the hard work of its pilots. Allegiant needs to abandon these reckless priorities and return to the table with a serious proposal that reflects industry standards.”



Rather than marching and chanting, union pilots employ the "silent picket" in uniform. Above is the informational picket from the Orlando/Sanford Airport yesterday
 

“Management has shown us exactly who they are — and today pilots across the nation showed them who we are,” said Captain Aaron Adrian, Chair of the Strategic Preparedness Committee at Local 2118. “We are unified, we are prepared, and we are done waiting. The time for excuses is over. We need a fair contract now.”

Allegiant pilots have voted by 97 percent to authorize a strike and delivered a decisive vote of no confidence in the company’s senior leadership and board of directors. The continued delay is already pushing experienced pilots to competitors, threatening Allegiant’s ability to retain crews, maintain reliability, and protect essential service to communities across the country.

 


 


 

Starbucks Workers United Expand Strike in Second Week

Last Thursday, workers at 65 union Starbucks stores across the country went out on an open-ended unfair labor practice strike to win a fair first contract and end the company's union busting. Yesterday, striking workers and allies targeted the largest Starbucks distribution center on the east coast in York, Pennsylvania. SBWU mobilized over a hundred for a picket line, with some sitting in the road to block semitrucks from entering.


 

Today, workers at 25 more stores joined the strike. There are currently no union stores on strike in West Central Florida; however, SBWU has solidarity requests you can do from anywhere:


 


 

Union-Made in America Thanksgiving + Holiday Gift Guide

With Thanksgiving and Black Friday next week, be sure to check out the AFL-CIO's Union Made lists!


 

 

 

Here's What's Coming Up:

 


 


 

 

Tonight: 11/20 Coalition of Manasota Union Meeting

Join Manatee and Sarasota County unionists for a meeting at ATU 1701 at 6:30pm (dinner at 6:00pm). ATU 1701 is located at 8 Sorrento Dr, Osprey, FL (look for a yellow building.) We will discuss union updates and plans for 2026. All union members and community supporters welcome. RSVP here.


 


 

12/1 Senate District 14 Screening

Governor Ron DeSantis has ordered a Special Election for Senate District 14 following his appointment of Jay Collins for the role of Lieutenant Governor. The primary will be January 13 and the General election will be March 24. On Tuesday, WCFLC moved to hold a screening on Monday, December 1 at 6pm at Hillsborough Classroom Teachers Association. All affiliated unions may send a representative for the panel, and all union members are welcome to observe.

Stay tuned for the formal announcement tomorrow.


 


 

12/2 Holiday Social

You are invited to our Holiday Social! RSVP here and see the Gift Drive wishlist here.


 



 

That's all for this week! Check out our website at wcflc.org or follow us on Facebook and Twitter for more updates. If you'd like to receive this weekly via email, please subscribe here: bit.ly/WCFLC 

If you would like to receive text message alerts from the Florida AFL-CIO (Msg & data rates may apply), text FLUNION to 235246!
 

In Solidarity,

West Central Florida Labor Council