ST. LOUIS — Schnucks delivery drivers won't strike on Wednesday after union representatives told 5 On Your Side that they have reached a tentative contract agreement with the company.
Leaders with Teamsters Local Union 610 said they are "fully recommending" today's agreement after Schnucks made compromises in favor of the drivers on matters of pay and health care, union members' two biggest demands.
Drivers will vote on whether to ratify the new contract on Wednesday at 1 p.m., with leaders expecting the vote to pass.
The strike threat came after two failed attempts to ratify a new contract over the past three months, union members told 5 On Your Side.
Schnucks released the following statement to 5 On Your Side:
We are pleased our ongoing negotiations with Teamsters Local 610 have led to a tentative agreement that is unanimously recommended by the union’s bargaining committee. We are hopeful that our drivers will formally ratify the contract when they vote on Wednesday, June 19.
In addition, as part of these negotiations, we have solidified and executed an extension agreement on the current contract.
Teamsters Local 610 represents 130 drivers in our transportation department who serve our stores in all markets where we operate with the exception of the Rockford, Illinois area.
Our 5 on Your Side news crew was out at the Schnucks Des Peres Thursday afternoon during the first day of the picket. The union previously told 5 On Your Side's Sydney Stallworth it gave Schnucks five days to return to the bargaining table and reach an agreement, or drivers would be willing to walk off the job.
The first contract negotiation fell through in April. Drivers in Local 610 voted it down unanimously. Drivers then voted down the second contract last Wednesday with about 90% of drivers voting against it.