More Than 260 US Foods Drivers Unanimously Authorize Strike
Key Facts
More than 260 members of Teamsters Local 282 who work as drivers voted unanimously on November 3, 2026, to authorize a strike at US Foods, according to a union statement published by PR Newswire. The vote puts the possibility of delivery disruptions across the New York tri-state area on the table if the company and the union fail to reach an agreement. The statement said a potential strike could affect hundreds of deliveries to local restaurants, hospitals and schools. It did not specify a strike start date or provide details on the course of negotiations. US Foods is one of the largest foodservice distributors in the United States, linking the potential impact to supplies for customers across multiple sectors.
The union said drivers are seeking a fair contract that includes higher wages, better benefits and safer working conditions. The statement tied a strike to the failure to reach an agreement, without describing negotiations as ongoing or providing details of contract offers. Tom Gesualdi, president of Local 282, said the company has the resources to offer a fair agreement and avert a strike. The authorization vote reflects members' readiness to give the union the option to strike if no agreement is reached, while any strike remained conditional on a failure to reach a settlement. The available sources contained no comment from the company on the vote or the union's demands.
Tony Casten, a driver and Local 282 member who has been driving for 20 years, said workers may have no choice but to strike if the new contract does not reflect their work. The statement quoted him as saying: "If we don't get a contract that values our hard work, we'll have no choice but to strike." His remarks give the dispute a direct dimension tied to recognition of workers' contributions, alongside the specific demands on wages, benefits and safety. But the statement did not give the amount of the requested increases or details of proposed contract provisions. It also did not specify when the current contract expires or when another bargaining round is scheduled.
The contractual dispute also involves two other units, according to the union: Teamsters Local 2 and Local 190 are engaged in similar disputes with US Foods. The statement said they could launch strike actions at any time, widening the potential labor risks beyond Local 282 members. Teamsters represents more than 5,000 workers at the company nationwide, according to a statement by the union's director of warehouse division. In October, the union said it represented more than 5,500 workers at US Foods; that figure appeared in its statement at the time. The current statement does not clarify whether the three units are bargaining through a unified process or whether they will coordinate any action.
The potential operational risks come as the company posted net sales of $39.4 billion in fiscal 2025, up 4.1% from the previous year. US Foods attributed sales growth to higher case volume and food cost inflation of 2.6%. Total case volume rose 1.0% during the year, supported by growth of 3.3% at independent restaurants and 4.4% in healthcare, while case volume at chains fell 3.5%. Net income also rose 36.8% to $676 million, and diluted earnings per share increased 45.5% to $2.94. These indicators provide context on the company's financial performance and demand in distribution sectors that could be affected by delivery disruptions.
In its fiscal 2026 guidance, US Foods forecast sales growth of 4% to 6%, adjusted EBITDA growth of 9% to 13%, and adjusted diluted earnings-per-share growth of 18% to 24%. The company reported in the second quarter of fiscal 2026 that sales rose 4.5% to $10.5 billion and net income increased 22.8% to $275 million from the same period a year earlier. Total case volume rose 1.9% that quarter, with a 5.1% increase at independent restaurants and a 1.5% decline at chains. USFD shares closed at $105.8 on November 2, 2026; that was the closing price for the day before the strike-vote news was published on November 3, and it does not establish when the vote took place during the trading session. The company is scheduled to discuss its third-quarter results on a live call and webcast on November 5, 2026, at 8 a.m. Central time.