In June, with a resounding 90% yes vote, the members of Teamsters Local 601 voted to merge with Local 856. Their goal for the merger is to increase member strength, build on the current Teamster Central Valley infrastructure, and advance organizing opportunities while maintaining local control. Local 856 is fully committed to meeting those goals.

The merger, effective August 1, establishes the creation of the Teamsters Local 856 Food Processing Division, with a board of rank-and-file leaders headed by Director Ashley Alvarado.

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I felt it was time for a podcast created by and for the rank-and-file, so I created one.

First, let me introduce myself. My name is Jeremy Rich and I am the Chief Steward at UPS’ small, but growing, Oakley building. I am also the Warden of Local 315. I have been at UPS for almost 20 years, the last 18 years of it as a package car driver. I originally started in UPS’ Concord building as a peak season part-time hire in 1999.

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On July 18, 2019, Teamsters Local 350 members employed by the City of Los Altos unanimously voted in favor of a new three-year Memorandum of Understanding.

“This contract provides the security and advancement our members sought for the next three years,” said Local 350 Recording Secretary and lead negotiator Juan Coca. “This lucrative M.O.U. provides more than just an increase in wages; it delivers full health care coverage, a path to enhancing the retiree benefits and recognition for our unit’s efforts in the form of incentive pay.”

The men and women of this unit provide a broad spectrum of services throughout the City of Los Altos,

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Business Rep Terry Mullady had an opportunity to meet with Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi in August to talk about the difficulties he and the Teamster reps across the nation are having in getting a new contract for the 4,000 workers at Gate Gourmet.

“The contract expired in December, 2017 and the company is not negotiating in good faith. They offered a sub-par company health plan and sub-standard wages,” says Mullady. “However,

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Saputo Creamery, with 11 dairy plants around the nation, awarded the Tulare facility with its “Gold Star Plant” award.  Management at the facility credited the workers—members of Local 517—for the honor. The plant has nearly doubled in size over the last three years, and currently have about 140 bargaining unit employees.

The company took many factors into account in designating the Tulare plant as the Gold Star plant. One was that, for the first time,

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Fight Together, Win Together. Teamsters Local 350 slogan was never more evident throughout the entire process with the Recology San Mateo Drivers unit. On July 2, 2019, members of the Recology San Mateo Drivers unit voted in an overwhelming fashion to approve a new contract.

Starting from the proposal meeting, the negotiating committee had a clear objective going into bargaining with Recology San Mateo. After several months, and minor movement from the company,

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Members burned out in Camp fire testify, “Now we’re Teamster strong.”

On November 8, 2019, the Camp fire ravaged the town of Paradise and surrounding areas of Butte County, destroying over 18,000 structures including 13,000 homes. It was only a few years ago that Local 137 organized the employees of Butte County. The Local also represents workers at TransDev, Coca Cola, Land O’ Lakes, Sysco, Farmer Brothers, UPS,  Bimbo and Franz Bakery, all in the fire zone.

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