Policy and Politics

Trish Suzuki Blinstrub
Political Director

Political Director's Report

Teamsters sponsor pro-worker bills at Capitol

It’s been a whirlwind of a couple months to start the year, and we’ve been working hard on ensuring we invest in our Union’s future. We have a package of bills introduced in both California and Nevada that focus on job protections and benefits.

In California, I want to highlight four bills we are sponsoring, starting with AB 33 introduced by Assemblymember Aguiar-Curry. The fight against autonomous vehicles is far from over: AB 33 would require a human operator for all commercial deliveries to any residence or business in California.

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The Sacramento Report

Drivers testify about autonomous vehicles
February 1, 2023
Drivers testified to the DMV at a January 27 hearing about their on-the-road concerns about the introduction of Autonomous Trucks without human drivers. Powerful stuff. This is not only about safety on the road for Teamster drivers and the driving public, it’s also about the future of good driving jobs in this country. Thanks to Assembly Member Cecilia Curry-Aguiar and Tom Lackey for introducing AB316; this bill will ensure that all vehicles over 10,000 pounds have a human operator.... Read more »
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Legal Update

Be prepared: Know your rights at work in an emergency
April 24, 2025

Devastating wildfires in Southern California and a tsunami warning in the Bay Area are recent reminders that Teamsters should know their rights at work in an emergency.

In 2022, the Workers’ Rights in Emergencies Act became law in California, defining an “emergency condition” as caused by either a natural disaster or a criminal act:

“Conditions of disaster or extreme peril to the safety of persons or property at the workplace or worksite caused by natural forces or a criminal act” or “an order to evacuate a workplace,

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