Author: Joint Council 7

Members ratify agreements in three key industries

January 3, 2020
Local 665, Teamster News

Local 665 announced the completion of negotiations and the ratification of three contracts in the bus, auto service and parking industries in San Francisco.

SFO Shuttle, which provides services for on-airport employees and the public in and around the busy San Francisco International Airport, agreed to a three-year deal, which will increase wages by $3.50 an hour over the life of the agreement, as well as increasing the employer contribution to the Western Conference of Teamsters Pension and maintaining benefits for the health plan.

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CBD and positive drug tests

TAP/TARP

Marijuana is legal in California, but that doesn’t mean that it’s accepted by employers. Some workers use CBD oils as a way to get the same benefits without the high, but that could backfire in a drug test.

CBD is the acronym for cannabadiol, a compound found in cannabis, and has gained popularity over the last few years for its therapeutic properties. Advocates claim to see positive changes when dealing with muscle and joint pain,

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New laws taking effect in 2020 and their impact on workers

Legal Update

As the new year starts, it is time for a look back to some of the significant bills passed by the California Legislature this year, as well as a look ahead to drivers’ license changes taking effect in the New Year.

AB-5: Ending worker misclassification

The biggest news out of Sacramento is the passage of AB-5. This bill codifies the Supreme Court’s decision last year in the Dynamex case that drew the line between workers who are employees and those who are legitimately treated as independent contractors.

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Teamsters shed light on dark side of Merced 2020 project

September 30, 2019
Local 2010

Teamsters 2010 members handed out about 400 leaflets and talked to dozens of students and residents heading into the Phase II opening of the UC Merced 2020 Project. The leaflet “congratulates” campus administration for selling out the Merced community.

The 2020 Project portion of UC Merced campus is a public-private partnership, which is a fancy way of saying that good, union jobs maintaining the buildings and grounds have been subcontracted out by the Canadian-based developer.

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Member is “made whole”

Local 517

After being wrongfully terminated by Land O Lakes in August 2018, 21-year employee Ron Arcino now has his job back with his seniority restored, and the arbitrator awarded him more than $100,000 in pay, pension and healthcare.

“When Ron was fired, the union immediately filed a grievance. The company promptly denied it, refusing to do a 2×2 panel as is called for in the contract,” explains  Business Rep Steve Nelson. “We took the case to arbitration,

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Commercial Driver’s License Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse established

TAP/TARP

Everyone with a CDL needs to know about the following new development from DOT: As of January 6, 2020, the Federal Motor Carrier Administration (FMCSA) is establishing the Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse (Clearinghouse). This new database will contain information about drug and alcohol violations. All violations of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) controlled substances (drug) and alcohol testing program for holders of CDLs will now be recorded in a central database.

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State legislature passes many important labor bills

Sacramento Report

This year’s legislative session came to one of its weirder ends in recent memory. Perhaps it was the full moon or the fact that it was Friday the 13th. Whatever the reason, it was crazy.

The halls were packed with protesters, mostly from the so-called “anti-vax” movement. These folks were there to protest the Legislature’s passage and ultimately the Governor’s signature on two bills to toughen our state’s vaccination laws. I’ve seen many protests over the years—human rights groups,

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Changes to Hours of Service Rules

Legal Update

Bowing to complaints from the trucking industry, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has proposed revisions to its hours-of-service regulations. Heralded as an opportunity to give drivers “relief from rigid mandates,” the proposed revisions are actually a thinly-veiled attempt to allow companies to limit the quality of driver resting time and extend the overall hours a driver can drive.

Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa condemned the proposed revisions stating: “Trucking is already one of the nation’s most dangerous jobs. 

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China trade war impacts recycling and Teamster jobs

Political Director's Report

More than 32,000 Teamsters across the nation work in the Solid Waste and Recycling Division. Every morning, Teamsters are out at the crack of dawn collecting America’s garbage and recyclables.

Unlike other Teamster industries, waste and recycling is concentrated into the hands of a few powerful corporations. Waste Management and Republic Services alone provide collection services to more than half the country. Despite this, the Teamsters are growing and organizing in this industry.

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