Teamsters 492 Organizing Victory in NM at Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits

3/16/2024- On behalf of Teamsters Local 492, I would personally like to congratulate all of the workers at Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits in this Local's jurisdiction, which includes warehouse workers, loaders, drivers as well as hostlers/yard jockeys.  As of March 16, 2024, an independent arbitrator certified Teamsters Local 492 to be the exclusive bargaining representative for the drivers and warehouse workers at Southern Glazer's. It is because of the hard work and commitment from all of our committee and workers, that we claim this victory on behalf of these workers! 

Teamsters Local 492 would like to thank IBT Organizing Department Director, Chris Rosell and Western Region Coordinator, Matt Lundy, for helping us with this campaign.

We, as a Local, are eager to sit down with the company and negotiate a contract that addresses our new members' needs and concerns as soon as possible. 

Teamsters local 492 covers a wide range of workers throughout the entire state of New Mexico, including ABF Freight, American Airlines, AmeriPride/Aramark, ASRC Federal, Creamland Dairy, ATF, Estancia Valley Solid Waste Authority, First Impression’s printers, Franklins Earthmovers, Greetings Inc printers, Hertz Rental, Los Alamos National Labs (TRIAD & Newport News Nuclear), OMI Jacobs (Rio Rancho Water & Eldorado Water), Penske Truck Rental, Pipeline workers, North Central Regional Transit District Blue Bus, Sandia Labs, Sara Lee/Bimbo Stores, Southern Glazer's, Sysco Foods, TranService, Tunista/Yulista Services KAFB Warehouses, TForce Freight, and UPS.

Andrew L. Palmer

Secretary-Treasurer 

Teamsters Local 492

3/19/2024 IBT Press Release; New Mexico Workers at Wine and Liquor Distributor Unite for Strong Voice on the Job

(ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.) – Wine and liquor distribution workers at Southern Glazer’s have joined Teamsters Local 492 in Albuquerque, N.M. The 45 warehouse workers, drivers, loaders, hostlers, and yard jockeys united to raise a stronger voice and address years of concerns on the job.

“We heard about the improvements other workers at the company were making by becoming Teamsters, and we wanted in,” said Michael Landis, a nine-year warehouse worker at Southern Glazer’s. “This campaign was all about securing our voice and making sure management listened to us.”

Landis and his co-workers are seeking higher wages, improved health care benefits, entry into the Western Conference of Teamsters Pension Trust, better working conditions, and respect.

“We congratulate all the workers at Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits. Their hard work and commitment led to this victory,” said Andrew L. Palmer, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 492. “We are eager to sit down with the company to negotiate a contract that addresses our new members’ needs and concerns.”

With the help of the Teamsters Brewery, Bakery, and Soft Drink Conference, Local 492 negotiated a card-check agreement with the company. On March 16, the workers’ union authorization cards were counted, and the company formally recognized Local 492 as the bargaining representative for the group.

“When workers come together to demand respect with a collective union voice, they protect themselves and raise standards throughout the entire industry,” said Jeff Padellaro, Director of the Teamsters Brewery, Bakery, and Soft Drink Conference. “The Conference looks forward to building on this win to organize more members in the months ahead.”