Darigold workers secure new three-year contract

Agreement includes significant gains in wages, benefits, and quality of life

TUKWILA, WA (June 25, 2025) — Jorge Farias has been racking up the overtime. A young father at Darigold, Shop Steward Farias spends long hours receiving milk loads, making sure the tankers are sanitary and clean before the milk moves into the plant for processing.

Farias is laser-focused on supporting his family, which is why he is quick to put in for the extra time. “My main goal is to provide for my daughter’s future,” he says.

That goal will become a little easier now with a new three-year contract that locks in life-changing wage increases on day one. The new pay scale will give Farias the cushion he needs to cut back on some of the overtime and to join his wife and daughter on family outings to places like the aquarium and zoo.

Teamsters Local 117 Secretary-Treasurer Paul Dascher with Teamster Moui Trenh on the shop floor. Photo: Teamsters 117

“People are definitely feeling good about it,” said Farias, referring to the agreement that members voted overwhelmingly to approve on June 22. “It gives us more time to spend with our families.”

Other highlights in the contract include meaningful bumps in pension, a compressed vacation calendar, a reduction in out-of-pocket medical costs, DRIVE language, an increase in the night shift premium, and securing MLK Day as a paid holiday.

Farias, who served on the Union negotiations team, chalks up the success to unwavering solidarity on the shop floor. A pre-negotiations visit from top Union brass may have also played a role. Just before bargaining kicked off, Sean O’Brien, General President of Teamsters International Union and Local 117 Secretary-Treasurer Paul Dascher walked the floor at the Darigold plant in Seattle, meeting members and encouraging them to stand strong.

Darigold member Tijuan Israel (r) gives the thumbs up together with Fred Zuckerman (l), Teamsters International President Sean O’Brien (center left), and Jacob Westerlund (center right). Photo: Teamsters 117

“Their coming to visit helped a lot with morale,” Farias said. “It gave everyone a boost, knowing that negotiations were coming around.”

Dascher praised lead negotiator James Borsum, Union Rep Jacob Westerlund and the entire Union negotiations committee for their oustanding work. “Our team of Shop Stewards and Union staff worked incredibly hard to secure a strong contract,” he said. “This agreement goes a long way toward recognizing the hard work our members put in to make sure the milk and other dairy products that go into the stores are safe to consume. These Teamsters work hard, and we fought to get them what they deserve.”

This story was originally published on the 117 Wire, Teamsters Local 117’s blog.