New business agent joins Local’s staff; robust representation continues
April 24, 2025
Local 431 would like to welcome Pablo Cordova as a new business agent. Pablo will be representing over 850 members from Sun Maid Growers of California to OK Produce, and Valley Fig, with a focus on packing houses.
Pablo has been a Teamster since 1995 and 10 of those years as a shop steward. Pablo started three years ago as a business agent with Local 439 representing UPS and was part of the negotiations of the current UPS contract. His knowledge of negotiations, member relations, and company contract language is a valuable asset to Local 431. Pablo commented that, “Transitioning to Local 431 has been an exciting and welcoming experience.” We are incredibly happy to have Pablo aboard!
With the persistence and knowledge of I.B.T. Representative Peter Lamb, and Local 70, Local 431 ratified the Reyes Coca-Cola contract with outstanding results in pension and wage increases. Chris Garlick stated, “We saw large increases to pension contributions and a five-year contract versus the previous three-year contract.”
The employees also voted to go to a component-based pay structure that included important safeguards built into the contract, including a one-year opt out to go back to hourly. The two-tier wage scale in the warehouse was eliminated in this contract.
Business Agent Mike Pratt organized Flowers Bakery, the number one competitor of Bimbo Bakeries. With a landslide vote in both the Fresno and Visalia facilities, Local 431 welcomes Flowers Bakery members. Mike states, “We are currently in negotiations with Flowers, which will be the first contract in the United States.”
