ST. CLOUD — Transportation workers at the Sysco wholesale food distributor here were back to work Friday morning after a one-day strike.

Members of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 120, which represents drivers at the Sysco in St. Cloud, picketed outside the Hwy. 10 business Wednesday evening and all day Thursday, citing unfair labor practices and substandard wages and benefits.

"We sent a strong message that we will stand up for ourselves and hold management accountable," Lucas Boyd, a seven-year employee of the company, said in a statement. "We hope they change their ways. If not, we will continue using every tool at our disposal to ensure that they are held accountable for treating us like we are second rate."

The food service distributor is a major provider to regional schools, restaurants and health care facilities. Sysco acquired St. Cloud-based Appert's Foodservice a decade ago. Drivers at the site, now called Sysco Western Minnesota, voted to unionize last summer.

A company spokesperson said the union's allegations of unfair labor practices are without merit and that the bargaining team has shared all required information about the offer.

"We care about our associates and are committed to providing a fair and competitive wage and benefit package," Shannon Mutschler, senior director of external communications, said in an e-mail to the Star Tribune. "Sysco Western Minnesota remains willing to continue negotiations in good faith and work toward a resolution."

She added that the company is working to deliver all orders to customers by the end of the weekend.

Jeff Schreiner, a 20-year employee at the St. Cloud site, said Thursday that the union had voted down three proposed contracts because the wages and benefits are "miles away" from contracts with Sysco drivers based in Mounds View.

"We don't feel like we're second-rate drivers, and we don't deserve a second-rate contract," he said.