Author: Joint Council 7

New marijuana testing laws in the workplace — difference for commercial drivers

April 30, 2024
TAP/TARP

For anyone not working as a commercial driver, it is important to understand the new California law regarding workplace drug testing for marijuana. This new law applies only to marijuana and does not change testing procedures for alcohol or other drugs.

California AB 2188 became effective on January 1, 2024. It provides protection to most employees. It prohibits employers from disciplining or terminating workers for legal, off-the-job marijuana use. This law does not allow certain types of cannabis testing and prohibits employers from disciplining most employees for off-the-job cannabis use.

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Teamster trustees improve pension benefits

News and Press, Teamster News

Building on the strong investment results of 2023, the trustees of the Western Conference of Teamsters Pension Trust (WCTPT) approved major benefit improvements at their January 2024 meeting.

The first of the improvements is an extension of the 1.6% bonus accrual rate effective January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2025. This accrual rate applies to all participants regardless of the years of service the participant has earned. The bonus accrual rate of 1.6% had been set to expire on December 31,

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Every Teamster vote counts

Political Director's Report

As we watched the election results come in, we were reminded just how much every vote counts. The March Presidential Primary had incredibly low turnout. That means there will be races won by very narrow margins. That also means every Teamster vote counts in a much bigger way.

This past election cycle, we endorsed candidates running for county Board of Supervisors, City Council, State Assembly, State Senate, and Congressional seats. Each of our Locals in their respective territories interviewed hundreds of candidates and chose those who we felt best aligned with our Teamster priorities.

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Joint Council 7 Local Unions: Driving force behind Teamster strength

Peter Finn, President's Report

With over 100,000 Joint Council 7 Teamster members from 18 Local Unions working in both the public and private sector across Northern California, the Central Valley, and Northern Nevada, having strong Teamsters stewards is crucial to delivering strong contracts, aggressively enforcing those agreements, and further improving upon our workplace protections. And I can say with absolute confidence that the stewards from the Local Unions that make up Joint Council 7 are second to none when it comes to being strong leaders in the workplace and standing up for their Teamster co-workers.

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Local 853 website now available in Spanish

Local 853, Uncategorized

Teamsters Local 853 is reaching out more aggressively to the 30% of its 13,000 members who prefer Spanish as their primary language.

This was achieved this by converting the Local’s  website to be fully bilingual in Spanish. Additionally, Local 853 has added a Spanish preference option to email and text communications for its members.

Until now, those members largely depended on friends and coworkers to translate information for them. It was a major milestone for Teamsters Local 853.

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Teamsters build low-emission buses for ABQ Ride

Local 853, Uncategorized

GILLIG, America’s premier heavy-duty transit bus manufacturer, built by skilled unionized workers represented by Teamsters Local 853, proudly announces the delivery of the first batch of 35 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses to ABQ RIDE in Albuquerque, with plans for an additional 18 buses later in 2024.

This milestone highlights the collaboration between GILLIG and its dedicated union workforce. 

“Our members at GILLIG, with the strong support of the stewards committee,

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Unanimous ratification at Performance Food Group

Local 853

In March, 80 Performance Food Group drivers in Gilroy assembled at the company to vote their first contract. It was a tremendous success as the members voted 100% YES in unity.

This has been a yearlong effort made by the I.B.T., Warehouse Division Director Tom Erickson, and Teamsters Local 630, all of whom graciously sent videos and supported these drivers through the entire process from UNION YES to RATIFICATION AT 100%.

We also want to thank the company for getting to a cooperative point in negotiations and doing the right thing for these drivers.

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Member in need after stroke

Local 533, Uncategorized

Klay Harding, Local 533 Teamster brother and longtime UPS Package Driver, had a major stroke on his way home from UPS on the evening of March 5, 2024.  Klay has a long road ahead of him, but we are hopeful he will be able to make a full recovery. However, unlike California, Nevada does not have state disability insurance, meaning Klay will only receive $85.00 a week for the first six months that he is out of work.

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Strong members lead to strong contracts at Budweiser, Coke

Local 896

An extremely busy past six months have rewarded members in both Fairfield Budweiser and Coke San Leandro.

Budweiser members stood strong demanding job security protections and wages to compete with the rising economy.

This resulted in practice pickets and multiple solidarity actions. Stewards Matt Tonn, Michael Hunt, Jamie Simmons, Miguel Vega, Brian Cook and Kris Wiggins assisted with crafting and furthering proposals, conducting a strike authorization vote, coordinating strike schedules, enduring grueling travel schedules,

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