Labor & Employment Law Daily Wrap Up, LABOR NEWS—Teamsters Union elected at Amazon in Missouri, Hard Rock Casino in Virginia, Vivalon Rides in California, (Jun 12, 2026)
Organizations Mentioned:Amazon | Ascend Wellness | Cargill | Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol | Hard Rock Hotel, Inc. | Teamsters Local 455 | Vivalon Rides
By Pamela Wolf, J.D.
Illinois Cannabis workers at Ascent Wellness also authorized a strike, and Cargill is facing unfair labor practice charges in Colorado.
On the labor landscape, the Teamsters Union separately announced that Amazon semi-truck and tractor-trailer drivers in Missouri, table games and dual rates dealers at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Virginia, and shuttle drivers and attendants at Vivalon Rides in California have voted for the union’s representation. Teamsters’ members at Ascend Wellness in Barry, Illinois, have also voted to authorize a strike, and Local 455 in Fort Morgan, Colorado, has filed unfair labor practice (ULP) charges against Cargill after the company reportedly cut off workers’ access to pay and benefits during an ongoing lockout.
Amazon semi-truck and tractor-trailer drivers. Dozens of Transportation Operations Management (TOM) Team drivers at Amazon’s MCI9 facility in Liberty, Missouri, have joined Teamsters Local 41, becoming the second group of semi-truck and tractor-trailer drivers at the company to organize with the Teamsters, according to the union. TOM Team drivers transport freight across Amazon properties and facilities before last-mile deliveries. Teamsters at MCI9 are fighting for better pay, respect from management, and an end to Amazon’s “arbitrary process of implementing policies and work rules that constantly change.” These new Teamsters members join CDL drivers at the SDF9 facility in Shepherdsville, Kentucky, and more than 10,000 Amazon Teamsters nationwide in the fight to unionize the giant online retailer.
“Amazon will randomly change our work policies and then unfairly discipline us without warning,” said Glenn Watford, a new member of Local 41 from MCI9. “No worker should have their livelihood threatened because management failed to do its job. The only way we can protect ourselves and force Amazon to treat us with respect is with a Teamsters contract.”
“TOM Team drivers are just as important to Amazon’s operation as warehouse workers and last-mile drivers,” observed Randy Korgan, Director of the Teamsters Amazon Division. “That’s why this company is trying everything it can to stop our momentum. But Amazon can’t stop workers who come together to demand respect. No matter where or how big a facility is, Teamsters will be there to fight alongside the workers responsible for making Amazon the world’s wealthiest retailer.”
Hard Rock Casino dealers join union. Teamsters announced that a group of 221 table games and dual rate dealers at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol in Bristol, Virginia, voted to join Local 519 and are now seeking “a fair first contract that includes higher wages, improved benefits, and a strong voice on the job.” The dealers are responsible for operating table games such as blackjack, roulette, and poker, managing the games, handling chips and payouts, and ensuring games are conducted fairly and efficiently.
“Dealers and dual rates are the backbone of the gaming floor, and when they stand together, they have the power to win real improvements on the job,” said Tommy Blitsch, Director of the Teamsters Convention, Trade Show, and Casino Division. “It was the best decision to choose the Teamsters, and we’re proud to support them as they move forward in securing a fair first contract.”
“Choosing to join the Teamsters was about securing respect, stability, and a voice on the casino floor,” said Anthony Keen, a table games dealer/dual rate and proud new member of Local 519. “We’re ready to negotiate a contract that reflects the hard work we do every day.”
San Francisco shuttle drivers and attendants. Twenty-two shuttle drivers and attendants at Vivalon Rides in San Francisco voted to join Teamsters Local 665 in an effort to secure better wages, stronger benefits, and a greater voice on the job while continuing to provide critical transportation services for San Franciscans who are unable to drive. The new union members provide on-demand transportation throughout San Francisco for older adults and people with disabilities.
“These workers provide an essential service to their community and deserve fair pay, quality benefits, and a seat at the table,” said Tony Delorio, Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 665. “We are proud to welcome them to the Teamsters and look forward to helping them secure a first contract that recognizes the important work they do every day.”
“We do important work for people across San Francisco, and we knew the best way to improve our jobs was by standing together,” said Charlene Monroe, a Vivalon driver and member of Local 665. “Now that we’re Teamsters, we have the strength and support to win the wages, benefits, and protections our co-workers and families deserve.”
Cannabis workers overwhelmingly authorize strike. Cannabis workers at Ascend Wellness in Barry, Illinois, who are members of Teamsters Local 916, voted by a 92 percent margin to authorize a strike in their battle for their first contract, according to the union. These workers cultivate, process, package, and distribute cannabis products for one of the nation’s largest multistate cannabis operators. Workers are seeking fair wages, affordable health care, and strong workplace protections. The union noted that multiple ULP charges have been filed against Ascend, including a charge that a bargaining committee member was targeted for union activity.
“After more than a year at the bargaining table, our members have had enough of this company’s delay tactics,” said JP Fyans, President of Teamsters Local 916. “Ascend’s executives have no problem paying union-busting attorneys to drag out negotiations, but when workers demand a fair contract, they suddenly claim they can’t afford it.”
“Ascend brings in millions of dollars every year off of our backs,” said Shane Wilmer, an Ascend cultivator and member of Local 916. “This company can afford to give us the contract we deserve. We are ready to do whatever necessary to get a fair contract, and we are not afraid to strike if that’s what it takes.”
Access to pay and benefits cut off. After Cargill cut off workers’ access to pay and benefits during an ongoing strike, Teamsters Local 455 in Fort Morgan, Colorado, filed ULP charges against the company. Cargill continues to keep more than 1,700 Teamsters locked out of the Fort Morgan beef processing facility, the union said.
Teamsters pointed out that Cargill has faced scrutiny, including antitrust lawsuits involving some of the nation’s largest meat companies. Recently, in a beef price-fixing case, Cargill agreed to pay $32.5 million to settle claims that it conspired with other processors to keep beef prices high, while denying any wrongdoing. The Teamsters Food Processing Division is looking into possible antitrust issues tied to the company’s conduct, calling it “one more sign that Cargill is putting profits ahead of people.”
“Cargill is hurting working families in Fort Morgan by illegally cutting benefits and refusing to pay its own workforce after now locking them out for multiple weeks,” said Dean Modecker, Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 455. “These charges make clear that Cargill cannot ignore the law. It’s time for the company to stop stalling and return to the bargaining table.”
Companies: Amazon; Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol; Vivalon Rides; Ascend Wellness; Cargill
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