Joint Council 7 resources back Local Unions in fights for members
August 5, 2024
The work done on a day-in and day-out basis on behalf of Teamster members by the dedicated officers and business agents of the Local Unions that make up Joint Council 7 is what makes the Teamsters the strongest labor organization there is. Whether fighting for fair wages, negotiating quality affordable healthcare, protecting jobs, or demanding the respect members deserve through aggressive representation, this work makes a real difference in the lives Teamsters members across Joint Council 7.
As a Joint Council, we are here to support the work of Local Unions by facilitating coordination, working together on strategy, and providing the resources necessary to win for members. The Joint Council 7 political program, legal program, communications assistance, and new organizing program are all designed to provide the resources Local Unions need to help fight for strong contracts, aggressively enforce those agreements, and grow our Union through organizing.
The Joint Council 7 Political Program provides support to Local Unions during contract and organizing campaigns, coordinates the endorsement process, DRIVE campaigns, political contributions, and election GOTV, as well as supporting Local Unions’ political activities through regional and Joint Council-wide meetings of political coordinators. In addition, the Political Program assists with local and statewide legislation via coordination with the California Teamsters Public Affairs Council, Joint Council 42, and the I.B.T.
The Joint Council Legal Services covers legal advice provided to Local Unions by phone, email or meetings, as well as NLRB/PERB work and legal analysis covering organizing, negotiations, contract interpretation, grievances, strikes, labor/employment laws, and union governance. The Legal Program also includes training for business agents, stewards, and members, as well as emerging technology bargaining assistance to ensure workers have a voice as artificial intelligence enters the workplace.
The Joint Council 7 Communications Team supports Local Unions during contract and organizing campaigns, and upon request, provides flyers, press releases, email, and texting services to Local Unions. The communications team engages members and the community through both a relevant print strategy and strong digital presence on the web and social media. Finally, the Joint Council is coordinating with the I.B.T. communications staff to establish an ongoing communications training program specifically designed for Joint Council 7 Local Union communicators.
The newly announced organizing partnership with the I.B.T. establishes a Joint Council 7 Organizing Program dedicated solely to organizing for the 18 Local Unions that make up Joint Council 7. The partnership establishes a team of organizers funded equally by the I.B.T. and Joint Council that will be dedicated solely to working on campaigns for Joint Council 7 Local Unions, with the I.B.T. providing a lead organizer. In addition, the I.B.T. will provide strategic organizing targeting, mapping, industry research, member organizer training, campaign communication, and additional resources to facilitate organizing within Joint Council 7.
With these resources, the Joint Council stands ready and prepared to have the back of each and every Local Union as they battle employers and fight for the more than 100,000 Teamsters across Northern California and Northern Nevada.
