Florida Drivers Crush Dark Money Attack on Union, Affirm Teamsters Representation
TAMPA, Fla., Oct. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Over 200 drivers at Breakthru Beverage have delivered a decisive blow to corporate union busting, voting down a multimillion-dollar effort to strip them of Teamsters representation.
The failed effort reveals the weakness and corruption of the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, one of the most notorious anti-worker organizations in America. The dark money group’s sole purpose is to strip away hard-earned union protections from the working class to line the pockets of greedy corporate executives.
Breakthru Beverage workers organized with the Teamsters at six Florida locations in September 2024. They fought for seven months to secure a first contract and were forced into a four-month strike by the company. Teamsters ultimately prevailed, ratifying a strong three-year contract delivering major wage increases, improved paid leave, and key protections.
The following is a statement from Breakthru Beverage Teamsters after defeating the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation’s anti-union campaign:
“From day one, Breakthru tried to divide us. When we organized as Teamsters, management spent hundreds of thousands on union busters. When we demanded a fair contract, they stalled. Their greed forced us to strike to protect our rights and dignity at work. The company doubled down, spending millions of dollars to attack us simply for standing up for ourselves. None of it worked.
“Breakthru’s desperate move was no match for our unity. We chose solidarity over division because we’ve seen what collective action can achieve.
“The National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation has no shame. Their overpaid lawyers and consultants who tried to sabotage our union are the enemy of hardworking Americans. They stormed into our workplace and tried to strip us of our pay, job security, and respect. But we stuck together. The National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation is a pathetic organization, and they earned this defeat.
“The solidarity we formed during this battle will never be broken. We’ve seen how far this foundation is willing to go to diminish workers’ rights and roll back economic progress for everyday Americans. We encourage workers nationwide to do their homework and not fall for this scam. When corporate-funded groups show up offering ‘help,’ ask them who’s really paying the bill. We fight too hard for our rights to simply hand them over to the millionaires and billionaires at the top, and we have an obligation to keep defending what working people have fought generations to build.”
Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.3 million hardworking people in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. Visit Teamster.org for more information. Follow us on X @Teamsters and on Facebook at Facebook.com/teamsters.
Contact:
Maura Drumm, (215) 510-3735
MDrumm@teamster.org
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SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters
