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,

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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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After voting for union representation in early 2021, the 29 drivers at Yosemite Foods in Stockton got a first contract with the company in November. “After being in talks since early February, we had to show the company we were serious by going on a one-day strike,” reported Local 439 Secretary-Treasurer Sal Lomeli who served as lead negotiator along with Ed Speckman. 

“Clearly, it was worth it,” Lomeli adds. “The contract includes excellent wages and improvements in the 401K and medical plans.” 

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Local 439 Secretary-Treasurer Sal Lomelli reports that he, and the negotiating committee of Ed Speckman and Phil Creamer, negotiated the Safeway Albertsons contract in October. “It’s one of the best contracts in the nation. It includes excellent wages up front, double-time; an extra holiday; and for the warehousemen, we got forever medical.” The contract was easily ratified by the 1,600 at Safeway’s Tracy warehouse in October.

“There are no more part-timers; they’re all full-time after they make probation.

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On October 11, the drivers at Smart Transportation overwhelmingly voted to ratify their first contract with Save Mart Corporation. The contract secured wage raises, health benefits and pension for the next four years. “The workers at Smart Transportation have been fighting for years to organize and we are very proud of the contract we were able to negotiate for them,” says Local 439 President Rob Nicewonger.

Teamsters Local 439 has also just organized the drivers and driver helpers at Yosemite Foods in Stockton and are eager to get to the bargaining table for these future Teamsters.

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