Teamster News

30th Teamster Convention: Candidates nominated, constitution amended, Amazon campaign launched

Due to the pandemic, instead of 5,000 Teamsters sitting shoulder to shoulder in a huge Las Vegas ballroom, the 30th Teamster convention was held virtually. While many people watched from their home computers, and some gathered in their Local Union offices, Joint Council 7 pulled together the largest contingent in one place, with about 200 delegates and alternates sitting socially distanced at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, NV.

The day before the convention started,

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Labor and gay community honor Allan Baird

On June 25, activists from across the west coast rallied and marched in the Castro neighborhood of San Francisco to honor and celebrate the contributions of retired Teamster Allan Baird. The 89-year old activist played a crucial role in labor and LGBTQ+ history. From serving as a president of the newspaper delivery drivers’ union to organizing the Coors beer boycott alongside the gay leader and future San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk and activist Howard Wallace,

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AAA Insurance Sales Agents unite for a voice on the Job

AAA insurance sales agents across Northern California voted overwhelmingly to join Teamsters Local 665 in June. The election was conducted by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) via mail-in ballot.

The 460 insurance sales agents work at 77 locations stretching from Merced to the Oregon border.

“These workers stood united because they deserve a strong voice and a secure future at AAA Northern California,” said Business Agent Tom Woods. “They want the stability and strength that comes with a Teamster contract,

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$250,000 arbitration win at UPS

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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Food processing Teamsters ratify contract extension

Local 856 Food Processing Teamsters recently ratified an important contract extension, which guarantees the largest across-the-board wage increase in the history of the contract.

The Teamsters Cannery Council agreement, which covers 10,000 Local 856 and Local 948 Teamsters working at canneries throughout the Central Valley, also ensures no increases to healthcare costs and maintains important contract protections and language.

“Food Processing Teamsters have quite literally risked their own lives throughout the pandemic to make certain we could all put food on our tables,” said Ashley Alvarado,

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Card check does the trick

A majority of the 15 drivers, janitors, and maintenance workers at Crothall Healthcare in Gilroy filed cards to show their interest in joining Local 853. They had a laundry list of grievances, including safety, favoritism, mistreatment, and lack of respect. Surprising everyone, including organizer Pablo Barrera, the company recognized the unit.

“We were sure that we’d have a fight on our hands and would have to go to an election,” says Barrera. “But because the Manteca facility is already under contract with Local 386,

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South Bay Recycling members ratify historic contract

In June, the 42-person South Bay Recycling Facility Operations unit in San Carlos voted to approve a historic new five-year deal. These essential workers are responsible for the day-to-day operations at the Shoreway Environmental Center, which encompasses both the Transfer Station and the Material Recovery Facility (MRF), both of which are open to residents, businesses, contractors, and individuals to bring their trash and recyclables for processing and transfer. Members include equipment operators, scale attendants, mechanics,

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Joint Council statement on mass killings in San Jose

(May 26, 2021)  This morning, a gunman killed eight Valley Transportation Agency (VTA) workers and himself at a union meeting of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 265 in San Jose.

Teamsters Local 853 also has members who subcontract to the VTA. The following is a statement by Teamsters Joint Council 7 President Rome Aloise:

“Fortunately, our members were safe from this horrific event. However, this is yet another devastating mass shooting that has snatched the lives of working people in the course of their day.

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Teamsters rally for AAA sales agents seeking representation

The Teamster 665 campaign for AAA agents shifted into high gear with an April 24 rally in front of San Francisco’s City Hall that drew hundreds of workers, their families, and Teamster members from around Northern California.

Between chants of “AAA – TEAMSTERS!” from the crowd of supporters, state and local elected officials stepped up to the microphone to offer encouragement to the 460 AAA workers who are preparing for an NLRB election scheduled for May 14.

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