Author: Joint Council 7

Yolanda Jimenez – Pacific Coast Producers (Local 856)

June 4, 2018
Local 601, Local 856, Member Profiles

For 16 years, Yolanda Jimenez has spent her summer months working in the canning area of Pacific Coast Producers in Woodland. She recently became a supervisor, overseeing the work of 15-20 other workers. “I’ve been there for a long time. Each July, when I go back, it’s like being with your family. Everybody knows you and greets you.”

Yolanda just became a trustee for Local 601 and is excited to learn more about how the union functions. “Most of the people, we don’t know what the union does for us. But I’ve learned that the union is us…and if we can get more involved we can get more help.”

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Motor Carriers Face New Challenge to Contract Driver Use

May 21, 2018
In the Media

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,

… Read more »

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Workers protest for campus safety and fair wages at CSU

March 10, 2018
Local 2010

 

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,

… Read more »

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Keeping the car rental agencies honest at SFO

Local 665

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,

… Read more »

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Recent changes to California’s labor and employment law

March 8, 2018
Legal Update

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.

… Read more »

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UNFI Drivers in California Choose Teamsters Local 853 Representation

Local 853, Press Releases

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,

… Read more »

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Teamsters Say Death of San Francisco Waste Worker Exposes Dangers of the Job

February 15, 2018
Press Releases

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,

… Read more »

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Drivers at UNFI in Gilroy vote to join Teamsters

February 5, 2018
Local 853, Teamster News

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,

… Read more »

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Teamsters on Robots: If You Can’t Beat ’em, Build ’em

January 19, 2018
In the Media

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.

… Read more »

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