Author: Joint Council 7

Q&A about the COVID vaccine

March 16, 2021
Teamster News

How do I get the vaccine? 

At press time, vaccinations are available to people over 65 years old, or people who work in education (teachers, school employees, school bus drivers) and in agriculture and the food industry, as well as people with underlying health issues. As more vaccines become available, the state will start lowering the age limit for vaccine eligibility.

To find out if you’re eligible for vaccination, call your health care provider to schedule first and second doses,

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Politics matter!

Political Director's Report

As this paper goes to press, the U.S. Congress just passed legislation unlike any we’ve seen in our lifetimes. As reported in this issue’s cover story, the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan (ARP) will protect Teamster pensions in struggling plans-—a victory the union has fought long and hard for through 20 years of Democrat and Republican administrations.

Thankfully, our Western Conference of Teamsters Pension Fund is in strong shape but, to keep it that way,

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Lots of new contracts

Local 517, Teamster News

Local 517 has completed negotiations on several contracts and members have ratified them. Members at Land O Lakes in Tulare and at Ventura Coastal in Tipton now have new five-year contracts. The members at Bright Now Dental in Visalia and Myovich Trucking in Fresno have new three-year agreements. Those at the City of Farmersville Fire Department have a new one-year agreement.

“All of our negotiated contracts were a step forward for our members,” said 

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Big arbitration win

Local 431, Teamster News

Teamsters Local 431 recently won a significant arbitration involving construction along the Hwy 99 and Hwy 180 corridors. Along with Construction Chairman Stu Helfer and Business Agent Mike Pratt, Teamsters Union Local 431 prevailed against Security Paving. The arbitrator ruling for underpayment and trust fund contributions could amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars. The award covered Kodiak Trucking’s performance of Teamster work when they blatantly chose to run non-union as well as underpay their employees.

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Important new benefit

Local 315, Teamster News

The 80 members at Napa Recycling and Waste Services recently ratified a new five-year contract with a valuable new benefit. For the first time in franchise history, the contract includes the Retirement Security Plan (RSP), fully covered by the employer. 

“Knowing that they will now have medical coverage after retirement, an overwhelming majority of ecstatic members ratified this contract,” says Business Agent Dustin Baumbach.  The contract also included increases in wages and pension as well as full maintenance of benefits for health and welfare.

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Hospital workers stand strong for a good contract

Local 856, Teamster News
Eden Hospital workers’ one-day strike leads to a good contract.

After long contentious negotiations, that included a one-day strike in December, front-line health care Teamsters 856 members at Sutter Health Eden Medical Center (EMC) in Castro Valley have ratified a new contract that increases wages and protects hard-fought contract language.

The 140 Teamsters 856 members at EMC include respiratory therapists, lab techs, imaging techs, and other health care professionals who have been on the front lines of the pandemic since its onset last spring.

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Cal State workers negotiate COVID-19 leave pay

Local 2010, Teamster News
Andrew Lowrimore CSU Bakersfield was grateful to save his sick leave after being exposed to COVID at work.

Local 2010’s bargaining team for CSU workers negotiated another round of leave benefits for members to help maintain their jobs and livelihoods. Teamsters working at CSU campuses throughout California will now have access to 256 additional paid leave hours for use between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2021. This is twice the amount going to other CSU bargaining units that don’t have similar settlement agreements.

“Our union agreed that we are past the emergent phase of COVID-19 and that maintaining all CSU workers’ base pay is critical through the remainder of this pandemic,” said Skilled Trades Director Drew Scott.

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Credit union opportunity

Local 533

“Getting new benefits and services for members is an always important goal,” says Secretary-Treasurer Debbie Calkins. “That’s why Local 533 recently became a preferred partner with Sierra Pacific Credit Union, enabling members to join this credit union”

Calkins says that Sierra Pacific has the best money market rates in our town that she have been able to find. They also offer free notary services to account holders.

Local 533 members may apply on-line at SierraPacificFCU.org/533.

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Helping members and community cope with COVID

Local 890, Teamster News
Members who work at Taylor Farms inform working members and those with COVID-19 of valuable resources available. From left: Maria Castro, Jose Garcia, and Enedina de la Torre.

Teamsters Local 890 has continued to be active in helping members and the wider working community cope with the difficult times caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Led by Principal Officer Crescencio Diaz, Local 890 has worked with local County Supervisors, growers, the Shippers Association, and the local health system to make COVID-19 vaccines available to Teamsters and other essential workers. Through these efforts, Local 890 ensured that food processing and agricultural workers are in Tier 1. 

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Teamsters Local 350 supports $100 million settlement for Recology ratepayers

Local 350, Teamster News

In March, San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera announced a $100 million settlement to be paid by Recology to its ratepayers in connection to an ongoing investigation into alleged corruption committed by former Director of the Department of Public Works, Mohammed Nuru. The following is an official statement from Teamsters Local Union 350 Secretary-Treasurer John Bouchard on the settlement.

“Teamsters Local 350 is proud of the work our members do at Recology to help protect public health and keep our city beautiful,” he said.

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