The organizing effort followed Southern Glazer’s transition to full ownership of its Oklahoma operations. Employees reached out to the union seeking to rectify years of stagnation, citing the success of their counterparts at other Southern Glazer’s locations as a primary motivation. Despite management’s active attempts to derail the vote, the workers maintained their push for formal representation.

Kelly Swon, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 516, noted that the unit remained resilient throughout the process. Now that the vote is finalized, the focus shifts to the bargaining table. For warehouse worker Darius Reese, the move is about long-term stability: he and his colleagues aim to transform their roles into sustainable careers by securing a first contract that mandates respect and fair compensation.