The tech workers start lining up before 7 a.m. to get on buses in the Castro district of San Francisco to be driven down to companies like Apple, Google and Tesla in Silicon Valley. On August 16, their routine was scuttled as nearly 100 Teamsters came to the active bus stop to press the shuttle bus companies for a master agreement that includes a pension plan.

Blocking buses for 3-5 minutes each, the Teamsters let the tech passengers know that their drivers were seeking a better deal.

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More than 60 skilled trades Teamsters from throughout the UC and CSU converged on the State Capitol for the first Local 2010 Skilled Trades Lobby Day on June 27.  Members met with the Governor’s office, Senate President Toni Atkins, Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, and other legislators and aides, seeking their support for increased funding to address deferred maintenance at the universities, and to urge them to pass AB 1231, the bill to restore step increases for CSU workers.

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On June 16, more than 300 shuttle bus drivers from multiple companies including WeDriveU and Loop Transportation came to the Doubletree Hotel in Newark to talk about the master contract that the union was negotiating with management. “We were glad to get a really good first contract three years ago,” says Business Rep Stacey Murphy, “but now is the time to ramp it up and make sure that our members are getting the most the union can negotiate.”

In fact,

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Jesse Gregory, a recently promoted service provider, was reaching a delivery stop along his route in December when he spotted white smoke wafting from a mobile park. Gregory observed the smoke worsening as it turned black. The UPSer pulled over his truck, threw on his hazard lights, and pulled in his mirror to further investigate the scene. He then started to hear a woman shouting in Spanish.

As he approached the park, Jesse realized that a motor home was on fire.

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Hundreds of skilled trades workers across the California State University system held protests on January 23, to call attention to the threats to students caused by years of neglect of campus facilities.

CSU has accumulated a $2+ billion backlog of neglected repairs and maintenance work, which continues to grow by $143 million a year.

“CSU raises tuition, but fails to invest in student safety and the safety of the workers who make the university run,” said Jason Rabinowitz,

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Reservations, front desk, concierge, and rooms control employees at the W San Francisco hotel have joined the more than 1,000 hospitality workers already represented by Teamsters 856 after a resounding yes vote in February.

For Priya Kumari, the choice to join Teamsters 856 was an easy one. After years of talking with members of Teamsters 665 and UNITE HERE Local 2 who work in other departments at the W, she realized what a difference a strong collective bargaining agreement could make.

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