Corporations and wealthy special interests continue to ramp up their attacks on the freedoms of working people by forcing through extreme changes in law intended to destroy workers’ rights to stand together in unions.
Unions may be the only counterbalance to the growing power of corporate CEOs and the politicians they bankroll. Unions give workers a seat at the table to negotiate with bosses for fair pay, decent benefits and safe working conditions.
Keep readingOn May 19, the Union Park Foundation in Fresno held their third annual event to honor fallen workers in the San Joaquin Valley. Opening ceremonies included the Fresno Police Department placing a wreath on the Union Park monument, which is located at the Fresno Fairgrounds.
“Teamsters Local 431, Joint Council 7 and many unions from around the Valley had joined together to help fund the building of this park,” reports Local 431 Business Rep Steve Sharp.
Keep readingThe U.S. Congress and many state legislatures have begun to address a national problem by considering legislation to stop unethical alcohol and drug treatment programs from preying on vulnerable individuals and families seeking treatment.
In December, 2017, the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations began hearing testimony about predatory practices by substance abuse treatment programs. In 2018, New York passed a measure that makes it a crime to offer or to accept any payment from an individual or entity that provides substance abuse treatment services in exchange for patient referrals and admissions.
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More than 60 skilled trades Teamsters from throughout the UC and CSU converged on the State Capitol for the first Local 2010 Skilled Trades Lobby Day on June 27. Members met with the Governor’s office, Senate President Toni Atkins, Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, and other legislators and aides, seeking their support for increased funding to address deferred maintenance at the universities, and to urge them to pass AB 1231, the bill to restore step increases for CSU workers.
Keep readingWith an approval rate of nearly 90%, about 12,500 members of Local 601 and Local 948 who are part of the Cannery Council ratified their new three-year contract in July.
“These were the toughest negotiations that I’ve faced,” says Local 601 Principal Officer Ashley Alvarado, who led the bargaining. “We were negotiating with all new people who do not yet have a relationship with the Cannery Council or the workers.”
Nevertheless,
Keep readingIn 2017, the 1,800 classified employees of West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD) voted overwhelmingly to become members of Teamsters 856. And in June, they ratified their first contract as Teamsters, proving what can happen when working people stand together.
“Just one year ago we were welcoming these new members into Local 856,” said Principal Officer Peter Finn. “And now these members have ratified a contract they can be proud of that will positively impact their lives and their families’ lives.”
Gary Abeyta is a head custodian for WCCUSD and he was a part of the team that worked to bargain their first Teamsters 856 contract.
Keep readingIn the past few months, District Council 2, which represents the printing industry, has ratified contracts for members in California, Utah, Nevada, Nebraska and the state of Washington reports Secretary-Treasurer Clark Ritchey.
In Northern California, MTA Brown Mail ratified a four-year agreement maintaining the status quo and Community Printers negotiated a three-year contract. A one-year extension was given to Central Valley News Sentinel (aka Lodi News) and Wheeler Sonoma Printers.
We continue bargaining in Northern California,
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On June 16, more than 300 shuttle bus drivers from multiple companies including WeDriveU and Loop Transportation came to the Doubletree Hotel in Newark to talk about the master contract that the union was negotiating with management. “We were glad to get a really good first contract three years ago,” says Business Rep Stacey Murphy, “but now is the time to ramp it up and make sure that our members are getting the most the union can negotiate.”
In fact,
Keep readingThe Republican-appointed justices on the Supreme Court have decided that the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment makes a mighty club to beat down the Democratic Party, the rights of minorities, and unions. The entirety of First Amendment reads as follows:
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble,
Keep readingFor the fifth year in a row, the availability and affordability of health care topped the list of concerns in a nationwide Gallup poll conducted in May. Health care ranked higher on the list than crime and violence, the economy, unemployment, the quality of the environment, and many other issues.
This should be no surprise to any Teamster. The rising cost of healthcare is front-and-center in every contract we negotiate, eating away at money we could otherwise put into raises and our pensions.
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