The University of the Pacific’s August move-in weekend for the 2022-23 school year saw a throng of students, parents, and university staff. Amid the shuffling of boxes and retrieving of room keys, sheets of neon green paper were handed out to students by Pacific’s Physical Plant workers. The flier explained that a strike was imminent unless Pacific signed a contract with Teamsters Local 439 giving the workers higher pay.
According to Principal Officer Sal Lomeli,
Keep readingWhat happens when you have a motivated workforce, a solid organizing team, and connections with local politicians? The workers at the Oakland Zoo just found out when they voted on September 30 by a four-to-one margin to unionize. Teamsters Local 853 is proud to welcome the 55 zookeepers at the Oakland Zoo and looks forward to negotiating their first union contract.
“These workers demonstrated tremendous courage so they can get a contract that addresses the issues they care about – respect,
Keep readingAfter countless meetings and a short campaign, the Butte County Management Employee Association voted in July to become Teamsters. This new Mid-Management Unit adds a potential 500 members to Local 137’s ranks and further expands the Teamsters’ presence within Butte County.
Three-quarters of Butte County employees are Teamsters now, and we look forward to a unified and strong group of members. “We welcome our new brothers and sisters in Butte County,” said Secretary-Treasurer Russ Butler.
Keep readingAfter 17 years with Joint Council 7, this is my last column as your political director. It has been an immense honor to work with our union.
Starting as an organizer
I was first hired into the Teamsters in 2006. Under the direction of our then Joint Council President, I ran the organizing campaign with misclassified truck drivers at the Port of Oakland. At the campaign’s peak, we put 5,000 people on the streets of downtown Oakland.
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Ernie Yates, former principal officer of Teamsters Local 665, died on November 30. The following is a joint statement from Local 665 Executive Board principal officer Tony Delorio and Mike Yates, president of Local 665 and son of Ernie Yates:
“Our union brother, Ernie Yates, was a Teamster his entire working life. His guidance, wisdom, and leadership benefited the lives of countless working men and women through his tireless efforts at the negotiation table and in worker advocacy in California and the United States.
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The 40 drivers and mechanics at GreenWaste of Palo Alto in Santa Clara, Calif., voted overwhelmingly on November 17 to become Teamsters. This group will join join the thousands of waste workers throughout the Bay Area already represented by Local 350.
“Ever since I started working for this company, I felt we needed representation. Everyone around us was doing better because they were Teamsters. We’ve seen the support, protection, and contracts they get from the union.
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More than 1,200 union members who work in the parking industry in San Francisco’s commercial and hotel sector announced unanimous approval of a new 4-year agreement slated to provide the best wages and benefits in that industry, nationwide.
“We’re very proud of this agreement,” said Tony DeIorio, Principal Officer of Teamsters Local 665. “It will continue to provide economic security and job protections for workers at nearly 300 off-street parking locations in our City.”
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More than 4,000 members who work in the cannery industry across the Central Valley ratified their new collective bargaining agreements in July.
Stanislaus Foods and Con Agra Brands, two national industry leaders in tomato processing, were part of the three-year Master Agreement. The 2,400 members at those two facilities agreed to a contract that also contains historic wage and benefit increases. The Master Agreement also covers Local 856 members in San Joaquin County and several other locations in Northern California.
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The 60 forklift drivers, loaders, unloaders, and sanitation workers at US Cold Storage in Tracy ratified a new two-year contract that includes historic wage increases, improved working conditions, a better health care plan, a better attendance policy, and other major improvements.
“I would like to give credit to Business Agent Gil Gomez, and the members themselves, for a great job,” said Secretary-Treasurer Sal Lomeli. “The talks were very contentious, but in the end,
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The three-person clerical unit at Recology of the Coast in Pacifica, CA, voted in September to ratify their first-ever agreement with the Teamsters Local 350. The unit had initially voted to join the union in May of 2022.
“I am thrilled to be part of the strong bond and support of the brotherhood and sisterhood of the Teamsters Union!” said Bernadette Chursin, a four-year employee and bargaining committee member.
Upon ratification,
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