In 2018, Teamsters Joint Council 7 supported Gavin Newsom’s election to Governor. In fact, we’ve been with him since his first run for the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1996. Why? Because he’s been with us. That’s why we’re supporting him now and recommend that all members vote NO on the recall. The election has been set for September 14, 2021.
Newsom was in San Francisco government from 1996-2011, first as a county supervisor and then as mayor.
Keep readingBy Shane Gusman
Hello from your State Capital! The Legislative session is in full swing, with roughly 1,500 pieces of legislation moving through the process.
As a Union, we have a very diverse jurisdiction so we have to keep an eye on most of these bills and take active positions on hundreds. We also have our own legislative program where we “sponsor” specific bills to help our members and help to grow the union.
Keep readingAs this paper goes to press, the U.S. Congress just passed legislation unlike any we’ve seen in our lifetimes. As reported in this issue’s cover story, the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan (ARP) will protect Teamster pensions in struggling plans-—a victory the union has fought long and hard for through 20 years of Democrat and Republican administrations.
Thankfully, our Western Conference of Teamsters Pension Fund is in strong shape but, to keep it that way,
Keep readingThis last November, Joint Council 7 ran the largest election program in our history. The pandemic did not stop us from talking with more of our members than ever before, using a combination of boots on the ground, phone banking, and text messages. I am proud to say that every single local union participated. Hundreds of Teamsters worked this campaign throughout the state, from members to business agents to local union political coordinators and principal officers.
Keep readingMost of you are registered to vote and you vote in every election. Thank you.
Unfortunately, far too many Teamsters just don’t vote. What will it take to get everyone registered and voting this year, which may be the most important election of our lifetime?
As a union, we do most of our work directly with our employers, negotiating and enforcing contracts. But I can’t emphasize enough the importance of the electoral process to our long-term survival and effectiveness.
Keep readingThe 2019-20 legislative session came to an unceremonious end on August 31. Between the difficulties of holding legislative meetings with COVID-19 restrictions and political infighting, the end of the session devolved into bickering between the parties and between the leaders of the Senate and Assembly. The end result was a failure to act on some pretty important issues. Affordable housing bills and legislation on police reform all died because the politicos couldn’t be civil with each other.
Keep readingTEAMSTERS JC7 SAYS NO ON PROP 22
Save your Jobs and Union Work!
In 2020, Union members are the key to protecting our good jobs and fighting Gig Greed. Prop 22 is being bankrolled by billionaire gig companies to destroy good jobs.
What’s this about?
Act now to stop the Uber/Lyft Gig agenda, which is:
Employers are looking to cut costs and replace us with gig work.
Keep readingCalifornia is slowly reopening and we cross our fingers that we don’t have a new surge in COVID-19 cases. We all know that our economy needs a jumpstart. We just need to make sure that, as we reopen, we do it safely for workers. This has been a major focus for CTPAC and we continue to work with the Governor’s office, CalOSHA, and the Department of Public Health to educate and push for standards to protect our members.
Keep readingOver 100 days into the COVID-19 pandemic, California and the rest of the United States are grappling with unemployment numbers this country has not seen since the Great Depression. In California alone, almost 30% of workers have filed for unemployment. For workers of color, women, low-wage workers, and workers without college degrees, the numbers are even higher. Add to this nearly 500,000 undocumented workers and over 400,000 “independent contractors” in California and the numbers are staggering.
Keep readingIt’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.
Keep reading
