Critical CDC Contractor Workers Vote to Join Teamsters Union

FREDERICK, MD – April 09, 2026 – In a decision that underscores a growing trend of labor organizing in specialized industries, 35 workers at SriSai Biopharmaceutical Solutions LLC have voted to join Teamsters Local 355. The company, a critical contractor for U.S. government agencies including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), now faces a new dynamic as its employees seek their first collective bargaining agreement.

The vote marks a significant victory for the Teamsters and the workers, who provide essential clinical and non-clinical supply management services. These services include the highly regulated storage and distribution of biological specimens vital for national health surveys and infectious disease research, linking the Frederick-based facility directly to the nation's public health infrastructure.

A Vote for 'Dignity and Respect'

The path to unionization was not without conflict. According to Teamsters officials, the successful vote followed a period of significant unrest, including a worker walkout over unspecified working conditions. The organizing drive also weathered what the union described as an anti-union campaign by the company.

"The strength and solidarity that these workers showed was some of the best I've ever seen," said Scott Chismar, a business agent for Local 355, in a statement. "These men and women staged a walkout over their working conditions and stuck together during the company's anti-union campaign. This is a special group of workers."

The sentiment was echoed by employees on the ground. For them, the decision to organize was about more than wages or benefits; it was about fundamentally changing their workplace environment.

"My co-workers and I knew we deserved better and began looking into what union would fit us best," stated Addysin Gross, a senior warehouse operations associate at SriSai. "We are looking forward to working under a Teamsters contract that will provide us with dignity, justice, and respect in the workplace."

Now that the vote is certified, the workers and the union will turn their attention to negotiating a first contract with SriSai Biopharmaceutical Solutions, a process that will codify terms of employment and establish formal grievance procedures.

Ripples in a Critical Supply Chain

The unionization at SriSai is particularly noteworthy due to the company's sensitive role as a government contractor. Founded in 2002, the Maryland-based firm specializes in services for the pharmaceutical and biotech industries, operating under strict federal regulations including Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and CDC guidelines for handling Select Agents.

Public records show SriSai holds contracts with federal agencies to provide highly specialized services. The company stores biospecimens for the CDC's National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), a major program that assesses the health and nutritional status of adults and children in the United States. It has also been awarded contracts by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for cryo freezer storage services related to infectious disease research. A recent CDC contract awarded in March 2025 for NHANES biospecimen storage was valued at over $159,000.

While federal agencies typically do not comment on the internal labor relations of their private contractors, the introduction of a union adds a new layer to the contractual relationship. Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) rules govern labor policies on federal contracts, and agencies possess the authority to address labor issues that could disrupt contract performance. The unionization introduces a formal structure for addressing worker concerns, which could lead to increased operational stability in the long run but may also introduce new cost and management considerations for the company as it fulfills its government obligations.

Beyond the Warehouse: A New Frontier for the Teamsters

The victory at SriSai Biopharmaceutical Solutions is a clear indicator of the Teamsters' strategy to expand beyond its traditional base in transportation and logistics. Teamsters Local 355, which represents over 5,000 members across Maryland, Virginia, and Delaware, has recently organized workers in a variety of non-traditional sectors. Recent successful campaigns include drivers at Ryder Transportation Solutions and employees at The Jewish Museum of Maryland, demonstrating a versatile organizing model.

This local effort reflects a national push by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters to organize in new and expanding areas of the economy, including healthcare, tech, and other specialized fields. The successful vote at a biopharmaceutical support company—a sector characterized by highly skilled labor and stringent regulatory oversight—represents a significant foothold in a new industry.

This organizing drive occurs as the broader biopharma industry navigates a complex labor market. After significant layoffs in 2024 and 2025, the sector is seeing renewed hiring activity, creating both opportunity and competition for skilled professionals. The successful union vote at SriSai suggests that even in these specialized, white-collar-adjacent fields, workers are increasingly looking to collective action to gain a stronger voice and improve their working conditions. As the 35 new Teamsters in Frederick prepare to negotiate their first contract, their success may inspire similar efforts across the biopharmaceutical support landscape.