Teamster News

News about the DMV and CDLs

July 1, 2020

As we pass three months since the initial shelter-in-place orders, California DMV field offices are beginning to expand services and the expiration date for commercial and non-commercial licenses has been extended due to the pandemic.

Appointments: All 169 DMV field offices have reopened for limited service to customers with appointments only. DMV encourages online services wherever possible at virtual.dmv.ca.gov and is giving first priority to those with existing appointments canceled due to the shelter-in-place orders.

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Acknowledging the value of garbage collectors gains one member national attention

May 5, 2020

Local 350, Teamster News

Aaron Meier is rightfully proud to be a garbageman.

Aaron Meier empties about 800 garbage cans every day, rain or shine. He first caught the world’s attention with a series of tweets in mid-March as Americans were just beginning to come to terms with the pandemic and what it would mean for their livelihoods.

“I’m a garbageman, I can’t work from home and my job is an essential city service that must get done,” tweeted Meier, a Local 350 member who works for Recology Sunset in San Francisco.

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Local 287 joins forces with Local 853

Local 853, Teamster News

Members of Local 287 met in January to learn about the pros and cons of merging with Local 853.

In a secret ballot mail vote held in February, the members of Local 287 voted overwhelmingly to merge into Local 853. The merger became effective on May 1.

After an explanation of the merger was mailed to each member, the Local held an open meeting for all Local 287 members. Nearly 300 members turned out to ask Local 853 Secretary-Treasurer Rome Aloise questions about the pros and cons of a merger.

“Local 287,

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The pandemic highlights the need for issues Joint Council 7 has championed

Political Director's Report, Teamster News

Teamsters fight to end worker misclassification and uphold AB5

It’s been ten years since Rome Aloise was elected president of Joint Council 7, merging it with Joint Council 38. The merger created one of the largest and most powerful Teamster organizations in the U.S., covering critical industrial and political power centers including Sacramento, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, and the nation’s breadbaskets of the Central and Salinas valleys.

Since that time, Joint Council 7 led on so many issues vital to defending and rebuilding worker power in California and throughout the country.

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The Coronavirus/COVID-19 outbreak—staying safe, accessing support

Teamster News

California closed down non-essential activities and has reaped the benefits of that decision with far fewer deaths and hospitalizations than projected. Even though we’ve passed the state’s “peak,” new cases are still coming and care needs to be taken to ensure that a second wave of the virus doesn’t occur.

It is estimated that more than half of all Californians will contract the coronavirus. Some may be asymptomatic, which means they won’t know they have it and yet can easily infect others.

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Federal and state programs to provide support for those who are not working

Teamster News

STATE

Unemployment Insurance

If you have lost your job or had your hours reduced for reasons related to COVID-19

Partial wage replacement benefit payments to workers who lose their job through no fault of their own.

Ranges from $40-$450/week for up to 26 weeks

www.edd.ca.gov/

unemployment/

eligibility.htm

STATE

Paid Family Leave (PFL)

If you’re unable to work because you are caring for an ill or quarantined family member with COVID-19 (certified by a medical professional)

Up to six weeks of benefit payment to eligible workers who have a full or partial loss of wages because they need time off work to care for a seriously-ill family member.

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Best Teamster Coke contract in 30 years

Local 896, Teamster News

Local 896 members at Coke in San Leandro recently ratified their new four-year contract eight months early.

Improvements include significant increases in wages, pension, and health and welfare, Teamster 401K participation, ratification and signing bonuses, and zero concessions.

For the first time in both Coke and Local 896 history, the members here ratified the contract unanimously.

Special thanks go to Local 853 President Dennis Hart for his invaluable participation and the use of the local’s hall,

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Largest economic settlement with Sysco in the nation

Local 137, Local 533, Local 853, Teamster News

In March, the members who work at Sysco Foods in Northern California and Nevada ratified a new six-year agreement that offers the largest economic settlement with the company in the nation. The negotiations took more than four months to complete, in large part due to the company’s aggressive attempt to remove language that protects working conditions. The offer was only possible because of a coordinated effort between the IBT Warehouse Division, Joint Council 7, and Locals 137,

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Members at Recology-Humboldt ratify new contract

Local 137, Teamster News

Teamsters Local 137 is proud to report that negotiations with Recology of Humboldt County has resulted in the best settlements ever. An addition to significant wage and pension increases, Recology agreed to pick up 100% of the premium on the Teamster health plan, a major new benefit.

Over the last two years, Recology acquired two independent waste companies in Arcata and Ferndale more than doubling the Local’s membership in Humboldt County. This was the first negotiations with the company since those members were successfully incorporated into the existing Recology contract.

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