Teamster News

Great contract for City/County of SF Teamsters

Teamster members who drive the construction vehicles for the City and County of San Francisco are now doing that work with a little more of a smile. Local 853 members haul the big equipment, the tractor trucks that clean out the sewers, the water trucks, and more. On May 9, those 200 Teamsters overwhelmingly ratified their new three-year agreement, and according to Business Rep Dan Harrington, “It’s the best contract we’ve been able to get in the last 20 years.”

Harrington explained that the negotiations had to go to mediation,

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Lobby Day Brings Teamsters Power to State Capitol

More than 50 Local 2010 members hit the State Capitol in full force on June 5 showing Teamster power to support our bills for the fair treatment of workers. The day started early with travel to Sacramento and kicked off with a brief orientation. Then members hit the hallways to meet with over a dozen legislators and aides to encourage them to vote to restore salary steps for California State University workers and paycheck protections for University of California workers.

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Talking union with high schoolers

Local 70 members spent a lovely May afternoon talking with students from Mt. Diablo High School about unions, in general—and Teamsters, in particular.

“We talked about the opportunities available for a great career if college was not in their plans,” says Business Agent Rich Fierro.

The group was joined by Local 853 Trustee Mike Fritz, Joint Council 7 Transportation coordinator Ron Valdez, and Local 856 Stewards Ken Olsen and Craig Bartzi who work for the School District.

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In Memoriam

Gerald Payton O’Hara

1936 – 2018

Gerry O’Hara, long-time advocate for the Teamsters Public Affairs Council in Sacramento, died in April, 2018 following many years of struggle with heart and lung issues. He was 82 years old.

Born and raised in San Francisco, Gerry received a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from the University of San Francisco in 1958. He served in the U.S. Army from 1958-1960 at Fort Ord,

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Recology drivers are ready to strike, if necessary

Solidarity is a word that you’ll usually see in any article pertaining to labor. Solidarity is a powerful word that resonates throughout the labor movement. But the ultimate form of solidarity occurs when members rally around their fellow brothers and sisters to flex the power of brotherhood. On May 16, 145 members of Teamsters Local 350, who work for Recology San Mateo, did just that by voting unanimously to approve strike sanction.

⁣The negotiating committee,

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Back pay won for newly-organized members

On November 1, 2018, Local 137 won the election to represent 32 employees of AccentCare Home Health of California. The bargaining unit consists of in-home health care providers and clerical staff.

“Shortly after we won the election, we learned that the company had stopped paying employees for  ‘Windshield Time’,” which Business Agent Kim Carelli described as an additional stipend paid based on the number of miles driven per day to care for patients.

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Big win at the Clift Hotel in San Francisco

Teamsters 856 member, Chelsey Yu is a front desk agent at the Clift Hotel in San Francisco. Last year, she gave birth to her daughter and began her maternity leave. A few months later, she received a letter from the Clift stating she had exhausted her protected leave and her health and welfare benefits would no longer be covered.

Based on a clear and established past practice and contract language, Chelsey knew she should have been able to use her sick leave and vacation hours to meet the minimum 80 hours she needed each month to qualify for her collectively bargained health benefits.

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87-year old Teamster retiree volunteers with the homeless

What will you be doing when you retire? Fishing? Playing with the grandkids?

If you’re Earl Randall, a member of Local 70 for 42 years,  you’ll be volunteering to help the homeless people in your community, even as you approach age 88.

Earl has a long history with the Teamsters. He was an officer for 13 years, served as a Trustee, was the Warden for Joint Council 7, and worked for the Western Conference of Teamsters for a spell.

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California Teamsters take on Sacramento to call for end to worker misclassification

Teamsters from more than 15 local unions within California Joint Councils 7 and 42 took part in a hearing and lobby day in Sacramento in support of legislation to help end misclassification. The Lobby Day was sponsored by the California Labor Federation.

In April, the California Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Dynamex Operations West, Inc. vs Superior Court of Los Angeles, referred to as “Dynamex,” simplified the test for determining whether a worker is classified as an employee for minimum wage and overtime protections.

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Members fight to restore salary steps

Teamsters Local 2010, in coalition with its sister union at the CSU system, CSUEU, has co-sponsored legislation (AB 369 sponsored by Assm. Weber) to restore salary steps for CSU employees across the state.

“This is a fight to restore basic fairness for CSU workers,” says Jason Rabinowitz, Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 2010. “Our hard-working CSU members deserve to receive step increases like every other worker in state service, and we will continue to bring Teamster power to bear until AB 369 is signed into law by Gov.

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