Labor & Employment Law Daily Wrap Up, LABOR NEWS—Teamsters authorize strikes at Amazon, First Student, Foremost Farms, (Sep 8, 2026)

By Pamela Wolf, J.D.

Drivers at giant agribusiness J.R. Simplot also voted to join Teamsters Local 431 after months of organizing in Central Valley, California.

In separate developments, the Teamsters announced California drivers at J.R. Simplot voted to join the union, California Amazon workers launched a one-day strike over unfair labor practices (ULPs), and Rhode Island First Student school bus workers and Wisconsin Foremost Farm workers have authorized strikes for fair contracts.

J.R. Simplot agricultural drivers. Drivers at J.R. Simplot have voted overwhelmingly to join Teamsters Local 431 after months of organizing in Central Valley, California, according to the union. J.R. Simplot is one of the world’s largest agribusinesses in the farming industry. The 16 drivers at the Helm facility deliver hazardous agricultural materials including herbicides, pesticides, and insecticides among other products for retail customers and farms across the region. These drivers are highly trained; they have obtained a Class A Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) and hazardous materials hauling endorsement.

“For years, management made empty promises about wages and benefits, but now we have the strength to hold them accountable,” said a driver and member of Local 431. “As Teamsters, we will finally get the respect we deserve from this company.”

Amazon warehouse workers. On September 2, 2026, Amazon Teamsters at the DJT6 facility in Riverside, California, launched a one-day ULP strike. The facility is said to be Amazon’s largest warehouse in the nation. Members of Teamsters Local 1932 were “forced” into a work stoppage to protest what the union called “Amazon’s illegal conduct and retaliation against workers advocating for safer working conditions.” DJT6 warehouse workers joined Local 1932 in December 2025. Since then, Amazon has ignored federal labor law requiring the company to recognize the Teamsters and bargain with workers at the facility, according to the union. Amazon has also purportedly retaliated against workers with illegal intimidation tactics, including unjustly terminating a union leader at the facility.

The union pointed out that it logged a victory against Amazon earlier this year at the National Labor Relations Board, when the e-commerce giant conceded that it will no longer retaliate against workers who exercise their right to strike. The September 2 strike is the first time that Teamsters on both primary shifts at the DJT6 facility have engaged in a coordinated action, bringing one of Amazon’s key nationwide hubs to a 24-hour stop, the union noted.

“I joined the Teamsters with hundreds of my coworkers to win better pay and safer working conditions at DJT6,” said a DJT6 Amazon worker and member of Local 1932. “But instead of listening to our concerns, Amazon has responded with illegal intimidation and retaliation against us. If Amazon doesn’t want to listen to us, then we have no other choice but to strike to defend our rights. We will show Amazon that no amount of intimidation will stop us from demanding safety on the job.”

First Student school bus workers. As of September 2, more than 750 school bus workers at First Student in Rhode Island—represented by Teamsters Local 251—are poised to strike after negotiations over eight local supplemental agreements broke down, the union announced. The strike could affect six First Student locations. The union members overwhelmingly voted to authorize a strike earlier this summer. Local 251 has spent the last few months bargaining with the company over local supplemental agreements covering workers who provide student transportation in Providence, Pawtucket, Lincoln, Smithfield, Central Falls, Bristol-Warren, Portsmouth, West Warwick, and statewide out-of-district routes.

“First Student has had all summer to reach fair agreements with the hardworking Teamsters who safely transport students across Rhode Island every day,” said Matt Taibi, Director of the Teamsters Passenger Transportation Division and Secretary-Treasurer of Local 251. “Our members have been clear about what it will take to avoid a strike. Now it’s First Student’s responsibility to bargain seriously and deliver the fair contracts these workers deserve.”

Foremost Farms workers. Members of Teamsters Local 120 at Foremost Farms in Reedsburg, Wisconsin, voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike, according to the union. The group of 40 workers is fighting for a fair contract while the company purportedly fails to address chronic staffing problems, lagging wages, and retirement security, and seeks concessions that would weaken existing overtime and attendance protections. Teamsters at the Reedsburg facility produce butter for the major dairy cooperative with operations across the Midwest.

“Our members keep Foremost’s butter operation going despite severe staffing shortages and crazy overtime schedules,” said Shaun Mullikin, Business Agent with Teamsters Local 120. “They are asking for wages that reflect their work, to maintain the overtime and attendance protections they have fought hard to secure, and retirement security that gives them dignity after years on the job. The vote they took shows they are united in demanding the contract they deserve.”

Companies: Teamsters; J.R. Simplot; Amazon; First Student; Foremost Farms

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