Teamsters Local 610 drivers approve new contract with Schnucks and prevent strike

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By TIM ROWDEN
Editor-in-Chief

St. Louis – Teamsters Local 610 members overwhelmingly approved a new contract with Schnucks on June 19, averting a potential strike. The new contract includes improved wages and health insurance benefits.

Dan Thacker, chief executive of Local 610, said drivers overwhelmingly (81 percent) approved the new contract.

“It gave us much better health insurance, and that was the main point of contention,” Thacker said.

Local 610 represents 129 drivers at Schnucks.

Salary increases for drivers
Thacker said drivers would receive a raise of $1.75 an hour in the first year of the contract and $1.10 in the second and third years.

Drivers in the second pay grade would also advance more quickly, he said.

After four months of negotiations, the drivers were ready to strike after rejecting the two previous contract offers.

On June 17, both sides returned to the negotiating table and forged a new pact. Afterward, Local 610 announced that the strike was ending and the new contract was “fully recommended.”

In several Schnucks stores in the region, drivers had alerted customers to the possible strike by handing out personal notes.

“They were willing to do it if they had to, but of course nobody wants a strike,” Thacker said. “It’s not good for anyone.”

Thacker thanked Schnucks customers for their support while drivers hand-written the invoices and urged them to continue shopping at Schnucks.

“Schnucks does a lot of good for our community, so I would just ask you to continue shopping there and support our economy.”