For Immediate Release
May 06, 2026
Drivers at Flowers Foods Ratify First Contract
Workers in Modesto Become First to Unionize at Company Nationwide
(MODESTO, Calif.) – Workers at Flowers Foods in Modesto, Calif., have voted to ratify a strong first agreement, becoming the first group to organize and win a union contract at the company nationwide. The 12 members of Teamsters Local 948 secured increased wages,
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More than 4,000 members who work in the cannery industry across the Central Valley ratified their new collective bargaining agreements in July.
Stanislaus Foods and Con Agra Brands, two national industry leaders in tomato processing, were part of the three-year Master Agreement. The 2,400 members at those two facilities agreed to a contract that also contains historic wage and benefit increases. The Master Agreement also covers Local 856 members in San Joaquin County and several other locations in Northern California.
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Rayland Elzy, Local 948
On Friday, February 5th, a tragic truck accident took the life of Local 948 member Rayland Elzy, Jr. He had been a UPS package driver out of the Visalia hub, and a Teamster since 2018.
Elzy and his long-time girlfriend had just gotten engaged and were ready to start their future before this tragedy. “He was an energetic, young man who had a good heart, and had become a leader at UPS,” says Local 948 Secretary-Treasurer Luis Diaz.
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Local 948 member and UPS driver Marcus Martinez parked on the freeway to salute a soldier being transported from Visalia airport to Hanford funeral home on June 16. “We are extremely proud of his tribute and thankful for all members who have served their country,” says Secretary-Treasurer Adam Ochoa.
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On November 3, Locals 601, 948 and 890 brought their shop stewards to Visalia for their annual training meeting. “I had the pleasure of getting to meet other stewards from other locals and was able to gain new knowledge from our guest speakers and from our attorneys. It was a great day with our Teamster sisters and brothers,” said Martin Cortez,Teamsters Local 601 Shop Steward who works at Pacific Coast Producers Distribution Service.
Keep readingWith an approval rate of nearly 90%, about 12,500 members of Local 601 and Local 948 who are part of the Cannery Council ratified their new three-year contract in July.
“These were the toughest negotiations that I’ve faced,” says Local 601 Principal Officer Ashley Alvarado, who led the bargaining. “We were negotiating with all new people who do not yet have a relationship with the Cannery Council or the workers.”
Nevertheless,
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