MOKENA, IL | Yesterday, more than 80 Drivers for Breakthru Beverage Group unanimously authorized the Teamsters Local 710 Bargaining Committee to call for a strike if necessary once their contract expires. The parties are back at the table today and tomorrow, with the contact expiring officially at 12:01am on April 1.

“Our Breakthru members sent a clear message to their employer and gave our committee the hammer we need to bring these negotiations across the finish line,” said Local 710 President and Bargaining Chairman Del Schaefer. “We have way too much on the table this late in the game, but our committee very clearly knows the pulse of the membership, and we’re ready to get a strong agreement, or walk across the street in Cicero.”

The parties have met a total of ten times to negotiate, with minimal progress thus far. There are several outstanding proposals regarding quality of life issues and job protections, and the company has used that as justification to ignore all open economic proposals.

“We are standing united at the table” said Brian Hill, Steward and 22-year Driver at Breakthru. “Our biggest fight is to get respect and trust in our workplace. Right now, we have zero trust, morale is terrible, and we’re miserable. The threat of the company unilaterally changing how we operate always hangs over our heads. We want to be able to have more control of our day and protect our careers, and we want to be respected.”

Local 710 is instructing members to continue working as directed. All updates will come directly from Teamsters Local 710 leadership.