Local 70

Join us in protecting our future: Get involved with D.R.I.V.E.

April 24, 2025
Local 70

We are excited to relaunch our D.R.I.V.E. program (Democrat Republican Independent Voter Education) to improve member involvement in the political process.  This program is crucial for safeguarding our jobs and protecting our members, as we cannot use union dues for political contributions.

Here’s why your involvement matters:

Driverless Trucks: The rise of driverless trucks poses significant safety risks and threatens to replace our drivers. This shift not only jeopardizes jobs but also impacts critical funding for our tax structures,

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Teamsters hold presidential straw poll vote

July 5, 2024
Local 70
Locals 70, 853, and 856 held a joint meeting on May 11, 2024, to conduct the Teamsters presidential straw poll vote.

Locals 70, 853, and 856 held a joint meeting on May 11, 2024, with each local conducting its own vote. The process was great, and our members expressed themselves. All political viewpoints were expressed and, more importantly, respected. All viewpoints were discussed from the floor, not the podium. The two longest dues-paying members in Local 70, totaling about 120 years, Chuck Mack and I, spoke from the floor. The point was made that we have to respect everyone’s political viewpoint but consider who will best represent our members,

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Persistance pays off in organizing new members

April 30, 2024
Local 70, Uncategorized

Local 70 recently had two successful organizing drives. The drivers and warehouse workers at Emerald Textiles reached out to Business Agent Henry Buchanan about joining our Local. Working conditions and pay were the issues at the top of their list. After a month-long election period, the workers voted unanimously to join Local 70. Henry is now engaged in contract negotiations with the company.

Local 70 has attempted many times to organize the warehouse workers at Pepsi in Hayward without success.

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$250,000 arbitration win at UPS

July 9, 2021
Local 70, Teamster News
UPS Shop Stewards Thomas Lewis and Alonzo Watts, with Danny Chong and Local 70 Secretary-Treasurer Marty Frates.

Local 70 Secretary-Treasurer Marty Frates reports that Danny Chong, a UPS Package Driver from the Oakland building, has won his arbitration—including getting made whole for back wages, health and welfare, pension, and more. All told, the arbitration award is about $250,000.

After 30 years at UPS, with a good work record and no discipline, Danny was accused of theft of time and was removed from his job in August 2019. Danny is an Early Air Driver (EAR).

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Jose Ramirez – Iron Mountain (Local 70)

June 4, 2021
Local 70, Member Profiles

Jose Ramirez has worked for Iron Mountain, a document archiving company, in its Oakland facility for 32 years, but that’s not where the magic is.

He serves as Lead Transportation Coordinator, dispatching drivers each day, and monitoring customer calls to help them solve problems. His territory runs from Eureka at the north, through the Bay Area, and down to Fremont, currently, and San Jose, starting in August, as well as east to Livermore,

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Samuel Styles – Pepsi (Local 70)

May 28, 2021
Local 70, Member Profiles

Samuel Styles has been a member of Teamsters Local 70 and worked as a delivery driver for Pepsi in Hayward for nearly three years. He’s out delivering Pepsi products every day to Safeway and Lucky stores, 7-11s, neighborhood corner stores, and restaurants. “I’ve delivered to every city in the Bay Area in one week. It’s great because I get to see different things, like restaurants that I’d like to try.”

The benefits he appreciates most about being in the union are the medical and dental.

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Best ribs in the East Bay

September 30, 2019
Local 70

Teamsters Local 70 was glad to be invited to participate in the first annual Barbara Lee Birthday Rib Cook-off. Not only did we attend, but we took home the trophy for best ribs! More important than the trophy is our continued presence at these events to remind the lawmakers who make decisions that working people matter.

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Talking union with high schoolers

July 1, 2019
Local 70, Teamster News
Students at Mt. Diablo High School learn about the Teamsters.

Local 70 members spent a lovely May afternoon talking with students from Mt. Diablo High School about unions, in general—and Teamsters, in particular.

“We talked about the opportunities available for a great career if college was not in their plans,” says Business Agent Rich Fierro.

The group was joined by Local 853 Trustee Mike Fritz, Joint Council 7 Transportation coordinator Ron Valdez, and Local 856 Stewards Ken Olsen and Craig Bartzi who work for the School District.

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87-year old Teamster retiree volunteers with the homeless

Local 70, Teamster News

What will you be doing when you retire? Fishing? Playing with the grandkids?

If you’re Earl Randall, a member of Local 70 for 42 years,  you’ll be volunteering to help the homeless people in your community, even as you approach age 88.

Earl has a long history with the Teamsters. He was an officer for 13 years, served as a Trustee, was the Warden for Joint Council 7, and worked for the Western Conference of Teamsters for a spell.

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