Drivers in the union also are calling for wages, pensions, and safety measures commensurate with other unionized Albertsons drivers
The union announced Monday that 97% of its members voted in favor of the strike
SuperMarketNews.com
Timothy Inklebarger, Editor
May 13, 2025
Some 90 Albertsons truck drivers represented by Dallas-based Teamsters Local 745 have voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike over contract negotiations that union members say would pave the way for self-driving trucks.
The union announced Monday that 97% of its members voted in favor of the strike authorization, arguing that language in the proposed contract “would allow the use of unsafe, unregulated autonomous trucks—putting jobs, families, and public safety at risk.”
The authorization means the workers could call a work stoppage at any time.
The union said in a press release that it also is calling on Albertsons to match wages, pensions, and job protections enjoyed by Albertsons Teamsters members in other parts of the country.
The Teamsters said that its members “will not accept a second-rate contract” and called the driverless trucks “dangerous.”
Albertsons said it is still “committed to productive discussions” with the union.
“We respect the rights of workers to engage in collective bargaining and are negotiating in good faith to reach an agreement that is fair to our employees, good for our customers, and allows our company to remain competitive,” Albertsons Companies said.
The union cited a news story in February from the American Automobile Association (AAA), a national organization that provides services like roadside assistance to its members, that only 13% of U.S. drivers would trust riding in an autonomous vehicle, up from 9% a year ago. And six out of 10 survey respondents reported being afraid to ride in a self-driving vehicle.
“If Albertsons thinks it can threaten one group of Teamsters without a significant response, they’re in for a rude awakening,” said Tom Erickson, director of the Teamsters Warehouse Division, in the press release. “We’re united, we’re ready, and we’re not going to let corporate greed take our jobs or endanger our communities.”
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