May / June / July 2018
June 2, 2018
Author: Joint Council 7
Motor Carriers Face New Challenge to Contract Driver Use
May 21, 2018
Source: Trucks.com
A California Supreme Court ruling threatens to upend the use of independent-contractor drivers by motor carriers in the state, creating turmoil for the trucking industry.
In Dynamex Operations West Inc. vs. Superior Court, the court adopted a narrower standard for determining if a worker is an employee or an independent contractor in California wage-and-hour disputes.
Most workers should be considered employees based on the intent of decades of California policy,
Keep readingWorkers protest for campus safety and fair wages at CSU
March 10, 2018
Hundreds of Skilled Trades workers across the California State University system held protests on Tuesday, January 23, to call attention to the threats to students caused by years of neglect of campus facilities.
CSU has accumulated a $2+ billion backlog of neglected repairs and maintenance work, which continues to grow by $143 million a year.
“CSU raises tuition, but fails to invest in student safety and the safety of the workers who make the university run,” said Jason Rabinowitz,
Keep readingKeeping the car rental agencies honest at SFO
The three major car rental agencies at San Francisco Airport (Hertz, Avis and Enterprise—which collectively own all the other major agencies) are all union—signatory either to Local 665 or 856. One of the three is trying to get the employees to decertify the union. “We’re not going to name the agency at this point, but we’re working to fight that off,” says Local 665 Vice President Chuck Andrew.
The rental car agencies operate under a lease agreement with San Francisco,
Keep readingRecent changes to California’s labor and employment law
March 8, 2018
Here is a brief summary of the most notable new labor and employment laws and regulations that became effective on January 1, 2018:
Expansion of drugs subject to DOT testing
Those working in industries regulated by the Department of Transportation (DOT) should be aware of a new rule issued by the DOT that expands the current drug testing panel to include commonly prescribed pain medications like Vicodin and Oxycontin. These opioid-based pain medications can be obtained legally through a valid medical prescription.
Keep readingUNFI Drivers in California Choose Teamsters Local 853 Representation
Drivers Join UNFI Workers Across the Country in Seeking Better Working Conditions
(SAN FRANCISCO) –– Drivers with the largest natural and organic food supplier in the United States, United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI), have chosen representation by Teamsters Local 853 in Oakland.
The 31 drivers based out of Gilroy, Calif., transport supplies for UNFI to major clients like Whole Foods, Amazon, Genentech, Sprouts and Google.
The drivers are seeking fair scheduling and compensation for excess hours,
Keep readingTeamsters Say Death of San Francisco Waste Worker Exposes Dangers of the Job
February 15, 2018
Long Hours Jeopardize the Health, Safety of Drivers and Public at Large
(WASHINGTON—February 15, 2018) – The following is a statement from Teamsters Solid Waste & Recycling Division Director Ron Herrera in response to the death of Jeremy Gordon, a Teamster and 24-year driver at waste provider Recology, who died late last week in a collision while delivering a garbage compactor to Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital.
“The Teamsters are saddened by the tragic passing of Local 350 member Jeremy Gordon last Friday while going about his daily routine,
Keep readingDrivers at UNFI in Gilroy vote to join Teamsters
February 5, 2018
In January, drivers with the largest natural and organic food supplier in the U..S., United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI), voted to be represented by Teamsters Local 853 in Oakland. The drivers are seeking fair scheduling and compensation for excess hours, seniority for overtime, improvements to safety and a shorter wage progression, among other gains.
The 31 drivers, based out of Gilroy, transport supplies for UNFI to major clients like Whole Foods, Amazon, Genentech,
Keep readingTeamsters on Robots: If You Can’t Beat ’em, Build ’em
January 19, 2018
Source: Bloomberg Law
Organized labor as a whole is staring down the barrel of automation, but Teamsters in Silicon Valley have found a way to get a shot at jobs in the tech industry.
Manufacturers are gearing up to send delivery robots onto sidewalks, and cities are developing regulations to control sidewalk traffic when the bots are ready to roll. Some California cities have agreed to include in those regulations provisions that encourage the robot makers to hire unionized workers for jobs in the industry.
Keep readingStatement on Bus Attack Impacting California Teamster Drivers, Tech Shuttle Passengers
January 18, 2018
Teamsters Working with High-Tech Employers to Ensure Safety
(SAN FRANCISCO—January 18, 2018) –– Teamster shuttle bus drivers safely navigated through an apparent pellet gun attack on commuter shuttle buses this week along Highway 280. Buses sustained damage in the attack, but there were no reported injuries to the drivers or passengers.
Two out of the five buses damaged were operated by Teamsters Local 853 members working for Loop Transportation and Compass Transportation and transporting employees for Apple.
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