News and Press

Another solid waste organizing victory in the North Bay

Less than a year after a 400 workers in Sonoma’s solid waste and recycling industry voted to become union members, Local 665 scored another win with an 80% Yes vote in an NLRB election to represent workers at most of North Bay transfer stations and the county landfill.

“These workers were employees of the County of Sonoma until they were out-sourced about five years ago” says Local 665 Secretary-Treasurer Mark Gleason. “They are very aware of the benefits that were taken away when Republic Services,

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Motor Carriers Face New Challenge to Contract Driver Use

Source: Trucks.com

A California Supreme Court ruling threatens to upend the use of independent-contractor drivers by motor carriers in the state, creating turmoil for the trucking industry.

In Dynamex Operations West Inc. vs. Superior Court, the court adopted a narrower standard for determining if a worker is an employee or an independent contractor in California wage-and-hour disputes.

Most workers should be considered employees based on the intent of decades of California policy,

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Automation will impact jobs; how much is up to us

In the past few months, the issues around automation and driverless trucks have become a major focus for Joint Council 7. You may ask why Teamsters should care about automation. The answer is the potential “robot apocalypse.” Some people estimate upwards of four million transportation workers will lose their jobs to automation in the next 5-20 years. Whether and how that happens  will depend on how our employers and our union act on the issue of automation.

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UNFI Drivers in California Choose Teamsters Local 853 Representation

Drivers Join UNFI Workers Across the Country in Seeking Better Working Conditions

(SAN FRANCISCO) –– Drivers with the largest natural and organic food supplier in the United States, United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI), have chosen representation by Teamsters Local 853 in Oakland.

The 31 drivers based out of Gilroy, Calif., transport supplies for UNFI to major clients like Whole Foods, Amazon, Genentech, Sprouts and Google.

The drivers are seeking fair scheduling and compensation for excess hours,

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Teamsters Say Death of San Francisco Waste Worker Exposes Dangers of the Job

Long Hours Jeopardize the Health, Safety of Drivers and Public at Large

(WASHINGTON—February 15, 2018) – The following is a statement from Teamsters Solid Waste & Recycling Division Director Ron Herrera in response to the death of Jeremy Gordon, a Teamster and 24-year driver at waste provider Recology, who died late last week in a collision while delivering a garbage compactor to Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital.

“The Teamsters are saddened by the tragic passing of Local 350 member Jeremy Gordon last Friday while going about his daily routine,

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