Bimbo Bakeries Chicago Teamsters Ratify New Agreement Hours Before Strike

A group of 275 workers at Bimbo Bakeries in Chicago ratified a new agreement hours before they were set to strike, according to PR Newswire. The warehouse and route sales workers are members of Teamsters Local 734. Bimbo Bakeries USA is the US subsidiary of Grupo Bimbo and produces brands including Little Bites and Sara Lee.

What the Chicago Agreement Includes

The new agreement includes protections to health care and job security and strengthens the pension, according to PR Newswire. The deal also includes significant wage increases for both hourly and commissioned members.

"Our members were serious about their strike threat and were ready to head to the picket line if management refused to put a fair agreement on the table," said Jeff Padellaro, Director of the Teamsters Brewery, Bakery, and Soft Drink Conference. "These workers know that when they stick together, they hold the power. Through their solidarity they were able to get a strong contract."

Scott C. Kunz, President of Local 734, said, "No one can mess with Bakery Teamsters." He said the rank-and-file members were committed to a deal that honored their hard work, and that with Padellaro's help they won a significant deal.

Corey Sims, a member of Local 734 and a Bimbo Bakeries shop steward, said the members knew throughout negotiations that staying united was the most important thing. Sims said they were excited their efforts paid off, and that they averted a strike and won major improvements.

Teamsters Local 734 represents thousands of members in the bakery industry throughout the Chicagoland area, according to PR Newswire.

Earlier Bimbo Bakeries Labor and Company Moves

On September 11, 2026, Teamsters Local 170 and 633 at Bimbo Bakeries ratified a new agreement by 90% after a strike threat, PR Newswire reported. The six-year contract includes pension improvements, wage increases, reduced health care costs, and job security protections.

On September 7, 2026, Bimbo Bakeries USA confirmed a data breach from a zero-day in Oracle EBS, Cyber Security News reported. The breach exposed names and Social Security numbers, and the company offered 12 months of free credit monitoring.

On August 20, 2026, Bimbo Bakeries USA Inc. Completed construction and settled into its new headquarters in Irving, Texas, following a relocation, American City Business Journals reported.

Bimbo Bakeries' 2028 Reformulation Deadline

On July 14, 2026, Bimbo Bakeries USA announced plans to eliminate artificial ingredients including synthetic colors, flavors, preservatives, and emulsifiers from its product portfolio by 2028, Snack Food & Wholesale Bakery reported. On July 2, 2026, the company said it would complete artificial color removal by the end of 2026, according to FinancialContent Business Page.