Labor defeats recall

As you know by now, the Gubernatorial Recall election has been defeated. Labor’s influence, through the efforts of our members and those of all California unions, played a big part in defeating this Republican-based attempt to steal the Governorship. Had they succeeded with the recall, an anti-worker, right-wing nutcase would have become the Governor of the largest state in the nation by a mere plurality of the vote. 

This election cost the taxpayers almost $300 million and could have cost our members the gains we have made in worker’s compensation and other state-generated benefits.

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Labor defeats recall

As you know by now, the Gubernatorial Recall election has been defeated. Labor’s influence, through the efforts of our members and those of all California unions, played a big part in defeating this Republican-based attempt to steal the Governorship. Had they succeeded with the recall, an anti-worker, right-wing nutcase would have become the Governor of the largest state in the nation by a mere plurality of the vote. 

This election cost the taxpayers almost $300 million and could have cost our members the gains we have made in worker’s compensation and other state-generated benefits.

… Read more »

Millionaire Republicans who want to roll back the clock on California’s worker protections are funneling big money into a campaign to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom. Let me be clear: If they succeed, we’ll lose many of the big gains we made on higher wages, pensions, health and safety, and a lot more.

To protect our contract, wages, and health care, I ask that you join me in voting NO on the Recall.

Who is behind this Recall?… Read more »

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) Convention just ended. Unfortunately, it was not the normal week in Las Vegas with 2,000 sisters and brothers, but rather it was a virtual, zoom-based three-day convention. In the end, the business of our union was handled and dispensed with successfully, and the nominations for the International General Executive Board were held and completed.

Overall, and surprisingly to me, the technology actually functioned pretty well, and the voting and discussions on proposals,

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Finally, some upbeat news to report after a year of pandemic shutdown and horror stories about the over 500,000 deaths in our country from COVID—too many of them our members. We’ve seen story after story about the hardships many of you have had to endure due to the COVID collateral damage to jobs, the economy, and to many of the companies you work for. However, things are finally looking up.

Members who have been out of work are being called back.

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In an effort to stem the increasing COVID-19 infections and to hang on until the vaccines became available, most public jurisdictions within Joint Council 7’s geographic area are again mandating shutdowns. For a while, it looked like the infections were subsiding and perhaps we were seeing a light at the end of the tunnel. Unfortunately, that was not the case. I have again required the Joint Council to move back to shut-down stages.

Unfortunately,

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We are nine months into a year so bizarre that no fiction writer in the world could have dreamed up the unprecedented scenario we are all going through. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed life for everyone and perhaps has changed life for workers for the future.

Economic effects of the pandemic

Of course, Teamsters have been essential workers from the very beginning—making sure that life-sustaining products were in the stores and hospitals so that the rest of society could survive and function. 

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We are experiencing unprecedented and historic times. None of us have seen anything like this pandemic and hopefully, we won’t have to experience it again. The threat of COVID-19 is something that many of us didn’t really take seriously at first. As the virus spread, and our political leaders started to acknowledge its seriousness, our world, as we know it, has experienced incredible changes.

Many of our members are working long hours making sure essential items are in place for the general public and for medical facilities.

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I am pleased to report that I have returned to my elected position as Secretary-Treasurer of Joint Council 7. On December 23, 2019, my friend and partner, Rome Aloise, has been re-installed and affirmed by a vote of the Joint Council 7 delegates, resuming his former elected position as your President.

In December of 2017, I felt it was my responsibility and duty to step up to the President’s position during Rome’s absence.

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