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.
Keep readingOfficers and members of Local 665 joined a San Francisco Supervisor in leading a convoy of desperately needed vehicles to be used by school children in the country of Haiti.
Working with Those Angels Inc. and Teamster-endorsed Supervisor Ahsha Safai, Local 665 Secretary-Treasurer Tony Delorio and Recording Secretary Juan Gallo assembled volunteer members to deliver three donated AC Transit buses and one donated ambulance to Florida for shipment to a school in Carrefour,
Keep readingOn July 18, the Northern California Ready Mix drivers working for Cemex and Central Concrete, who are members of Local 853 and 315, overwhelmingly ratified their contract extension by mail ballot. This contract impacts 600 members at facilities across the Greater Bay Area.
“Given the current circumstances brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the resulting inability to do most things in person, full-blown negotiations would have taken months and would have put areas of our contract at potential risk,” said Local 853 Principal Officer Rome Aloise.
Keep readingThe Local 315 members employed at Mt. Diablo Resource Recovery recently ratified contracts with two of their units—Mt. Diablo Recycling Center and Recycling Center & Transfer Station. “Negotiating during the pandemic had its challenges,” says Business Rep David Rodriguez, “but with the perseverance of the Local and its bargaining committee, we were able to secure a five-year contract with the biggest pension increases our members have seen, great wages, and full maintenance of benefits for their health and welfare.”
Rodriguez wanted to thank the members for their patience and understanding during the negotiations.
Keep readingLocal 856 won hazard pay for more than 3,000 members working in its Food Processing Division during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic—recognizing the workers who have kept the nation’s food supply functioning and the inherent dangers they have faced just by reporting to work each day.
Ashley Alvarado, Director of the Local 856 Food Processing Division, said that despite no legal means to require the employer to provide additional compensation, the Local had secured hazard pay for members at Pacific Coast Producers plants in Lodi,
Keep readingOn September 11, Local 533 took legal action in the federal court system, filing for injunctive relief and fast-track arbitration to compel the Washoe County Regional Transportation bus system to enforce Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak’s (D) mask mandate.
“This is an extreme measure because this is an extreme emergency and no one has responded all year,” said Teamsters Local 533 President Gary Watson.
“Our patience evaporated when we learned that a passenger was refused boarding because his pants were down but maskless passengers were allowed on the bus,” Watson said.
Keep readingClerical workers unite
On August 17, 2020, in a mail ballot, the clerical unit at the Republic Services Ox Mountain Landfill in Half Moon Bay had their ballots counted, and by a vote of 2-0, these new members said “YES!” to join their new brothers and sisters at Teamsters Local 350.
“Whether it’s organizing two new members or 2,000 members, they are all important, and any organizing victory is a big win for labor,” said Business Representative Robert Sandoval.
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Teamsters Local 431 has built a smart phone app that is now available for IOS or Android phones, in both English and Spanish. Download the “Teamsters 431” app today and stay informed and up to date with your Local union.
Secretary-Treasurer Peter Nuñez reports that many members are facing hardship due to the massive Creek Fire in the Sierra National Forest outside of Fresno. As of mid-September, the fire had burned more than 228,000 acres and was only 18% contained.
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