2020 began with such promise on both the work and political fronts. The economy was strong and labor was united in its political goals. However, after nine months of pandemic lockdowns, the economy has been booming for some and devastating for others.
Politically, while we’ll be able to count on a new Presidential administration—one that is much friendlier to workers and unions, at this writing, which party holds the Senate majority is in the hands of Georgians.
Keep readingTeamsters Local 2010 is on a roll, winning union representation for more than 1,300 workers in the span of about a month in late 2020! First, over 1,000 Administrative Officer 2s won the right to Union representation with the Teamsters. Local 2010 staff and organizers worked hard to show the State Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) how the UC consistently misclassifies our bargaining unit work in order to deny overtime, layoff protections, and the benefits of a union contract.
Keep readingOn 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 readingWorkers for e-scooter company Spin voted overwhelmingly in November to ratify their first union contract with Local 665.
The workers joined Local 665 via card check agreement in late 2018. As the pandemic raged, the union held negotiating sessions over Zoom to reach a three-year agreement that contains a number of important firsts. The agreement includes annual wage increases of more than 3% per year; six paid holidays, vacation days based on years of employment,
Keep readingSalvador Ruvalcaba retired this year after 51 years of service at R & K Industrial Products. This manufacturing company, located in Richmond, makes industrial wheels for light-weight applications such as hand trucks and carts, to much heavier and demanding applications and accessories. The company has been employee-owned since 1977.
First hired in November 1969, Salvador worked in the Machine Shop. He has also been a steward in several negotiations. “Local 315 wishes Salvador a long,
Keep readingWhen the national agreement for Gate Gourmet and other airport service companies was first negotiated, the unions agreed to waive the health care provisions for San Francisco, because, at that time, the company offered excellent health care.
However, the tide for benefits began to change and the local Teamsters and Hotel and Restaurant Employees (HERE) unions wanted to eliminate the waiver to ensure that their members got excellent health coverage.
Local 2785 Business Rep Terry Mullady worked with HERE’s Mike Casey and the Service Employees International Union to lobby the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.
Keep readingTeamsters Local 431 is heading into negotiations with Sun•Maid Growers, Rich Products and recently ratified an agreement with BMC West, reports Secretary-Treasurer Peter Nuñez.
Nuñez also thanks Northern California Construction Coordinator Stu Helfer for his help in a recent arbitration against High Speed Rail Contractor TPZP. “The decision protects Teamster work and provides earned benefits for our members,” he says.
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Members from Taylor Farms Retail, Dole Fresh Vegetables, and Organic Girl distribute food to members of the union and to field workers from the Salinas Valley. “Local 890 has held several food distributions in collaboration with the Monterey County Food Bank to help families in these challenging times,” reports Business Rep Juan Cabrera.
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Rather than gathering in a high school auditorium, Local 853 switched its annual Membership Appreciation Event to be a “drive-through.” On October 31, nearly 1,000 members came to the DoubleTree Hilton in Newark to pick up their membership gift, and the “State of Our Union” speech and raffle were held on zoom the next day.
Keep readingAs reported in the last issue of this paper, Local 533 filed a lawsuit against Keolis Transit for not mandating that bus customers wear masks to ensure the safety of both drivers and passengers. This failure has resulted in more than two dozen drivers and some support workers contracting COVID-19 over the last several months.
“Social distancing seems to be a thing of the past,” said Local 533 President Gary Watson. “Some buses pack in passengers like sardines at peak hours but the foreign-owned management contractor will not dispatch additional vehicles to relieve overcrowding.
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