Teamsters from throughout the Bay Area came together in September with one goal in mind: tackle the growing threat that Amazon poses to our union. Over the past decade, Amazon has become one of the largest employers in California. This should come as no surprise to any Teamster at UPS or DHL. As Amazon has grown, so has UPS. But at what cost to our members? And how long will it last?
Amazon’s army of contract drivers move the same packages we do,
Keep readingOn February 23, over 500 Teamsters from across Northern and Central California came together at UPS’ San Francisco building to protest the company’s decision to slash wages by up to $6/hour for part-timers. The event was sponsored by the Nor Cal Teamster UPS Committee and Teamsters Joint Council 7. UPS workers and Teamster supporters came from across the Bay Area and as far as Fresno, Watsonville, and Sacramento.
“This company recorded record profits in 2021,
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The San Francisco Board of Supervisors officially declared October 26, 2021, to be Teamsters Local 350 Day. Labor leaders, elected officials, and members gathered in front of the Joint Council 7 truck with San Francisco City Hall as the backdrop to commemorate the 85th anniversary of the Local and to honor its dedicated members with a city proclamation.
“The City is honoring Local 350 today, but what that really means is we’re honoring you – you guys are Local 350,
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UPS has just announced that they will be reducing wages for the lowest-paid classifications. This is a unilateral move that the Teamsters Nor-Cal Committee rejects and will fight, especially as contract negotiations near.
“The Nor Cal Committee is committed to doing everything available including filing charges against UPS, holding “day of action” protests calling out UPS’s bad behavior and that UPS is not a responsible business partner in our communities when it reduces wage rates in the name of record profits for shareholders,” said Peter Nunez,
Keep readingOn October 15, the Teamsters working at the Save Mart Distribution Center ratified a 3-year contract that includes upgraded medical insurance through the Northern California General Teamsters Security Fund, improved bidding procedures, and significant pension and wage increases.
“This is the best contract our Save-Mart members have ever earned,” said Secretary-Treasurer Dale Wentz. Business Agent Conor Tobin assisted Principal Spokesperson Ron Cannizzaro during the long negotiations. “Ron’s experience and expertise were apparent every step of the way,” Wentz added.
Keep readingAfter 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 readingUCI Skilled Trades Teamsters won a powerful new contract this month, including substantial across-the-board wage increases, equity wage adjustments, language improvements, and a significant recognition bonus. Of those voting, 94.1% said YES to ratify the agreement, guaranteeing better wages and treatment from the University.
Over the course of fighting for this contract, we stood together and took action like never before. As UCI stalled and low-balled the union month after month, members marched on the Chancellor,
Keep readingLocal 890 is currently in negotiations with Organic Girl, Taylor Farms Yuma AZ, Dole Value Added, Monterey Disposal, Olam, and Bud of California. At press time, the agricultural workers from Bud of California rejected the company’s proposal and the committee is back at the table. “Teamsters Local 890 will continue negotiating strong contracts and great benefits for the members,” said Business Rep Jesus Rangel. “We hope to be able to report a contract at Bud in the next issue.”
Keep readingOn October 2, nearly 200 Local 856 shop stewards gathered at the Westin SFO in Millbrae for the Local’s annual shop steward appreciation day.
The event included a retrospective on the past two years showcasing the essential work Local 856 members have performed in nearly every industry throughout the pandemic, including health care, public services, hospitality, airline, and school districts.
“Our steward appreciation day has become a Local 856 tradition, and we are grateful that we were able to resume it this year,
Keep reading“Ten years ago, there were zero Amazon warehouses in California,” said Shaun Martinez, from the IBT’s Strategic Research and Campaigns Department “Today, Amazon is the state’s largest employer.”
Speaking at a training about Amazon for about 100 Local 853 UPS members at the San Jose Teamster office on November 13, Martinez reviewed Amazon’s growth, from bookseller to major customer of UPS to now being UPS’ biggest competitor—already surpassing Fed-Ex’s market share.
The battle has already begun.
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