RelaDyne Drivers Overcome Alleged Union-Busting to Join Teamsters

CHICAGO, IL – December 29, 2025 – After a grueling 18-month organizing campaign, a group of 24 fuel and oil drivers for RelaDyne Transportation has successfully voted to join Teamsters Local 705. The workers persevered through what union officials described as an intense anti-union campaign by the company to secure representation, aiming for higher wages, improved benefits, and a meaningful voice in their workplace.

The victory marks a significant achievement for the drivers and a strategic win for the Teamsters, who have been actively organizing across the transportation and logistics sectors. The campaign's length and the allegations of corporate resistance underscore the challenges workers face in modern organizing drives.

A Protracted Battle for Representation

The path to unionization was anything but swift. According to the Teamsters, the RelaDyne drivers endured a year-and-a-half-long period marked by company-led delays and intimidation tactics designed to derail their efforts. The union's press release characterized the employer's conduct as "egregious union-busting."

Juan Campos, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 705 and Director of the Teamsters Tankhaul Division, praised the workers' resilience. "Teamsters stick together no matter how hard the battle is," Campos stated. "Once these drivers filed the petition, they endured blatant union-busting from the company. Their determination, grit, and solidarity made this win possible."

That sentiment was echoed by the workers themselves, who remained united in their goal. The core motivations for organizing centered on tangible economic improvements and the desire for respect on the job. The drivers are seeking a collective bargaining agreement that addresses compensation, healthcare and retirement benefits, and fair working conditions.

"We never gave up on our fight to join the Teamsters," said Greg Whitten Jr., a RelaDyne driver and now a new member of Local 705. "The company tried everything to slow us down, but with the support of Local 705 and Joint Council 25, we held strong and won the representation we deserve."

Industry Giant Faces Organizing Push

RelaDyne is a formidable force in its industry, billing itself as the largest lubricant distributor in the United States and a market leader in fuel and industrial services. Since its founding in 2010, the company has grown aggressively through dozens of acquisitions, expanding its footprint to over 190 locations across North America. Just this month, the company announced the relocation of its corporate headquarters from Ohio to Houston, Texas, citing its large employee base there.

Despite its significant market presence, RelaDyne has remained silent on the unionization vote in Illinois. No public statements have been issued from the company's corporate office regarding the organizing drive or the allegations of anti-union activities. This lack of commentary is not uncommon in labor disputes, as companies often prefer to handle such matters internally or through legal channels rather than in the public sphere.

The Teamsters' accusations of "union-busting" point to a confrontational relationship during the organizing process. While specific details of the alleged intimidation were not made public, such claims in labor campaigns can encompass a range of activities, from mandatory anti-union meetings to surveillance and disciplinary actions against organizing leaders. Often, these disputes lead to the filing of Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) charges with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), the federal agency that protects workers' rights to organize.

Fueling a Broader Labor Movement

The RelaDyne victory does not exist in a vacuum. It is part of a broader, energized labor movement, particularly within the transportation and logistics industries that form the backbone of the U.S. economy. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters has made organizing in the global supply chain a top priority, leveraging its deep industry expertise.

This strategic focus has yielded a string of recent victories. In the past year, the Teamsters have successfully organized workers at World Fuel Services Corp., secured a first contract for port truck drivers, and won representation for hundreds of warehouse workers at major companies like UNFI and Amazon. This momentum suggests that workers are increasingly looking to unions to address concerns over pay, job security, and working conditions.

The Teamsters' organizing model emphasizes building a strong internal committee of workers, identifying key workplace issues, and mobilizing the entire group to support contract demands after an election win. For the new members at RelaDyne, the successful vote is the first major step in a longer process that now shifts to the bargaining table.

The Economic Realities of Fuel Hauling

The drivers' demand for higher wages is contextualized by the economic landscape for their profession in Illinois. Data on fuel truck driver salaries in the state varies significantly, suggesting a wide range of pay scales depending on the employer, location, and driver experience. Average annual salaries have been reported anywhere from approximately $46,000 to as high as $80,000 in the Chicago area. This inconsistency can fuel worker dissatisfaction, especially if their compensation falls on the lower end of the spectrum.

By forming a union, the RelaDyne drivers aim to standardize their compensation and benefits through a legally binding contract. The Teamsters have a long history of negotiating agreements that provide members with robust healthcare plans, defined-benefit pensions, and grievance procedures to ensure fair treatment—benefits that are often superior to those in non-union workplaces.

With the election now certified, Teamsters Local 705, which represents over 17,000 workers across the Chicago area, will begin the critical process of negotiating a first contract with RelaDyne Transportation. The strength and solidarity that carried the drivers through the 18-month organizing fight will now be channeled toward securing the wages and protections that prompted their battle in the first place.