TomaTek members win 20% pay increases in first Teamster contract
December 19, 2024
TomaTek Local 856 members have voted by 91% to ratify their first Teamsters 856 contract—a landmark four-year agreement that includes average raises of 20% in the first year alone, and yearly increases thereafter.
“I’ve been working at this company for 30 years and I’ve been waiting all these years for a raise and thank God, we’ve achieved it,” said Negotiating Committee Member Elisabeth Zamora. “We couldn’t have done it alone. It’s an honor to belong to this great Teamsters family,” she continued.
In addition to the historic wage increases, the agreement also calls for holiday pay eligibility for seasonal employees, an increased tool allowance for maintenance classifications, increased shift differentials, and a training program for machine operators to facilitate promotional opportunities.
“It was an honor to be a part of a committee that took time to present a contract that respects the union members—I could not be prouder,” said Negotiating Committee Member Mark Barcellos.
“The negotiations committee worked tirelessly to ensure all classifications, from mechanics to general labor, were equally represented at the table,” said Veronica Diaz, Director of the Teamsters 856 Central Coast Division who led negotiations. “The wage increases and contract language the committee achieved pave the way for sustainable careers at TomaTek with dignity on the job.”
The 1,100 Teamsters at TomaTek, who process and package tomato-based products for industrial, foodservice, and retail companies in California’s Central Valley, elected to become Teamsters last July in a resounding vote. “As Teamsters, we know that an organizing campaign is not over until we negotiate a strong Teamster contract and we will fight for that as long as it takes,” said Peter Finn, Local 856 Principal Officer. “With our rank-and-file committee leading the way, we were able to deliver tangible results that address longstanding wage and language issues at TomaTek and we look forward to aggressively enforcing our new agreement and building on these successes for years to come.”
