Author: Joint Council 7

Why politics matters — what we’ve won and the work ahead

June 29, 2022
Political Director's Report

This is my 16th year as a Teamster. I was hired as political director in 2010 right after the merger of Joint Councils 7 and 38. That merger united more than 100,000 Teamsters from Bakersfield to the Oregon border and Reno under one tent. Overnight, we became one of the largest Joint Councils in the Teamsters. In fact, our Council is larger than 41 states.

I was hired to build political power so we can organize new workers into the Teamsters and negotiate the best wages and working conditions for our members.

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Wading through a sea of retaliation in search of first contract at AAA

Local 665, Teamster News
AAA insurance sales people and Teamster allies rally in Stockton against retaliatory branch closure.

Over 60 members, supporters, and elected officials rallied on May 31 in front of the Stockton AAA branch, where the insurance giant is closing its fourth highest-grossing branch out of 78 in retaliation against one of Local 665’s biggest supporters. 

“These workers chose to organize with us because AAA is outsourcing high-paying, middle-class careers into churn-and-burn, low-paying, high-turnover telemarketing jobs,” said Tony Delorio, Local 665 Secretary-Treasurer. “AAA needs to stop acting like a hedge fund and start acting like a membership association.

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Fighting back with pride

Local 533, Teamster News

When UPS took no action after the union reported that a supervisor made a homophobic comment, Local 533 jumped into action. The Local has started an LGBTQ+ group, which is growing rapidly.  

“We are determined to make a difference both in the community and workplace for all members or allies in support of the LGBTQ+ community,” says Secretary-Treasurer Debbie Calkins. 

This logo will be screen-printed onto t-shirts and tank tops and will be available to purchase for $20.00. 

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The labor movement now: Significant increase in union election petitions

Legal Update

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has reported that union election petitions have increased by 57% during the first half of Fiscal Year 2022 (October 2021 – March 2022). From October 2020 to March 2021, there were only 748 election petitions. As of March 31, 2022, there were 1,174 election petitions filed with the NLRB. If this trend in union election petitions continues through the rest of the year, it will be the highest annual total of election petitions filed in the last ten years. 

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When we stand together, we win together!

President's Report

Teamsters Joint Council 7 leaders are uniting to build a stronger Union to win fair pay, benefits and rights for working people. The 20 powerful Locals in our Joint Council, representing 100,000 hardworking Teamsters across Northern California and Northern Nevada, continue to set the pace for the entire country. As you will see in the pages of this newspaper, our Locals are successfully taking on greedy employers, fighting for and winning strong contracts, and organizing thousands of workers into the union. 

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Preparing to return to work after rehab

TAP/TARP

Completing an addiction treatment program is a great accomplishment and something for which you should feel great pride. At the same time, you are probably a bit apprehensive thinking about returning to work, especially if you’re coming back to the same job. You may have many concerns about what to expect. Or, you may be worried about how to talk to your boss and coworkers. This is a big step, but it’s one that you can take one day at a time.

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Liquor drivers ratify first contract

June 23, 2022
Local 315, Teamster News

After voting to unionize in 2021 by a vote of 17 to 1, the 25 drivers from Zephyr Express (Winebow) in Benicia unanimously ratified their first contract in March. These drivers deliver alcohol to grocery stores, BevMo stores, and other liquor retailers.

“We believe that the talks went smoothing precisely because of the resolve these drivers showed in demanding a union,” says Secretary-Treasurer Don E. Garcia. “And that resolve paid off. Their day one wage increases ranged from $2 per hour to $10.16 per hour. 

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New contract at Kelloggs

Local 853, Teamster News
Kellogg’s workers happily ratify their new contract.

In 2021 and 2022, the workers at the Kelloggs facilities in Nebraska, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Kansas had to go on strike for up to three months to get a decent contract. When the contract at Kelloggs’ Eggo Waffle facility in San Jose was due to expire in June, that recent history was all too real for the 150 members and Business Rep Ray Torres. Fortunately, with two strike authorizations in hand, no strike was necessary and members got the best contract they’ve ever had.

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Labor roars back to the Capitol

May 25, 2022
Teamster News
Governor Newsom joins a large group of Teamsters.

In its first legislative conference since 2019, the California Labor Federation and State Building Trades Council brought back hundreds of union members to Sacramento on May 16 and 17 to promote labor’s legislative agenda. Joint Council 7 was there in force.

Every attendee had to take an on-site COVID test to gain admittance. Due to lines and the mandatory 15-minute wait time, many attendees (including this writer) missed several of the morning speeches.

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