Drivers testified to the DMV at a January 27 hearing about their on-the-road concerns about the introduction of Autonomous Trucks without human drivers. Powerful stuff. This is not only about safety on the road for Teamster drivers and the driving public, it’s also about the future of good driving jobs in this country. Thanks to Assembly Member Cecilia Curry-Aguiar and Tom Lackey for introducing AB316; this bill will ensure that all vehicles over 10,000 pounds have a human operator.… Read more »
Keep readingLocal 439
Big wage gains at UOP
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 readingHistoric contract at US Cold Storage
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,
Keep readingFirst contract at Yosemite Foods
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.”
Keep readingBest grocery warehouse contract in nation
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.
Keep readingNew Teamsters get first contract at Smart Transportation
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.
Keep readingDS Services (Alhambra) workers vote for union representation
After a long organizing drive that included educating the employees on union busting tactics and the benefits of having a collective bargaining agreement, on April 25, the employees of DS Services of Manteca voted 25-12 in favor of having Teamsters Local 439 be their union representative.
The organizing team did an amazing job in keeping the group together and keeping the union informed on what was being said and handed out at the union busting meetings.
Keep readingBig fight at Tracy Logistics for one new member
Teamsters Local 439 represents about 443 members at Tracy Logistics in Stockton, so when their lone Pest Control worker asked to organize, we didn’t think it would be a problem for the company to add one more classification to the existing contract.
Unfortunately, due to greed and the need for control, the company denied the union’s request for card check using an “Armour-Globe” election, which easily allows non-union units in an otherwise union shop to join the union.
Keep readingWelcome new members at Reddaway
Teamsters Local 439 is proud to announce that the six clerical workers at Reddaway’s Tracy trucking facility voted for union representation and have already ratified their first contract.
During the two-month organizing drive, the employer held captive audience meetings and brought in people from around the country to encourage a NO vote. But the women of the clerical unit had seen how the drivers worked with their union and didn’t buy the opposition hype.
Keep readingMembers ratify new San Francisco parking agreement
Local 665 members have ratified a new four-year multi-employer agreement covering parking operations at San Francisco’s commercial office buildings, major hotels and municipal facilities.
“We are pleased with the offer and the members approved this contract in a nearly unanimous vote” said Local 665 Vice President Tony Delorio.
The new offer includes hourly wage increases each year for each classificatio, protections for the current health plan and improvements in the Western Conference of Teamsters Pension.
Keep reading