Brian Fisher

Local 853 Saves Teamsters Jobs at Golf Courses in San Francisco

In a multi-month effort, Local 853, in coordination with the SF Building Trades Council, saved sixty jobs from privatization at San Francisco’s city golf courses.
Immediately after last year’s Mayoral election, rumors started circulating about the Rec & Parks Department’s plan to privatize golf in an effort to save money at the cost of sixty jobs. When the budget hit in February, it was in print that the department fully intended to do what had been rumored up to then.
Enter the Teamsters & the Building Trades: Local 853 contacted the Building Trades, and a plan was put together to lobby members of the budget committee. Multiple meetings were set up with the members of the committee and chair Connie Chan. They backed us up 100% and then backed our position in several hearings on the matter. Local 853 and the Trades also met with the Mayor’s Chief of Staff to press our case. At the end of the budget process, Supervisor Chan, with the support of her committee, was able to craft an agreement with the Mayor that saved 60 jobs at the golf courses for Teamsters, Plumbers, Operating Engineers, Electricians, Stationary Engineers, and Laborers.
This campaign goes to show that when you execute a plan with confidence, smarts, and passion, you can fight City Hall!

Rudy Gonzalez (S-T SF Building Trades), Kevin Reavey (Local 853 Chief Steward-Golf RET) & Mike Henneberry (Local 853 Recording Secretary) spearheaded the efforts to save union jobs at golf with the direct involvement of the affected members.

Local 853 Saves Teamsters Jobs at Golf Courses in San Francisco Read More »

DRIVE Visits Martinellis – an important way you can support Labor in California and the United States

When you hear that DRIVE is stopping by your workplace, take notice. Last week Beatriz with DRIVE was at S Martinelli & Company, talking with members on the benefits to Labor that DRIVE creates and supports.

Sign up and support if you have the chance. DRIVE is not related to any political party; it only backs and supports Labor-supporting causes and politicians.

🧐 What is DRIVE

The Teamsters DRIVE program—short for Democrat Republican Independent Voter Education—is our union’s political action committee (PAC). It’s a voluntary fund, separate from dues, where members contribute (often around $1/week) to support political engagement and advocacy that results in furthering positive labor-related laws.

🗳️ What DRIVE Does

  • Educates members on political issues and the voting records of legislators.
  • Registers voters and runs get-out-the-vote campaigns at grassroots levels.
  • Supports candidates (non-partisanly) who back labor-friendly policies, and opposes anti-worker politicians.
  • Organizes advocacy efforts, such as rallies, phone banks, mailings, and precinct-level outreach.

💪 Impact Today

  • DRIVE is arguably the largest PAC program of its kind in the U.S., entirely funded by voluntary member contributions.
  • Funds are utilized in everything from voter education and registration to campaign support and legislative lobbying—all aimed at protecting Teamster interests like job security, benefits, and labor rights.

DRIVE Visits Martinellis – an important way you can support Labor in California and the United States Read More »

Douglas Parking in Stanford ready to start negotiations

Teamsters Local 853 members from Douglas Parking in Stanford met today for a proposal meeting and selection of a negotiating committee. The negotiating committee selection is paramount to a successful negotiation. These are the members who will bring your voice to the table.

This group at Douglas Parking is on the front line, transporting hospital staff and people around the hospital. Often, the people that these members transport are going through a traumatic family or personal medical situation, and these members provide safe and reliable transportation throughout the hospital campus. This is important work that entitles them to a strong contract.

We look forward to securing that contract with significant gains and no concessions.

Stay tuned as these negotiations unfold.

Douglas Parking in Stanford ready to start negotiations Read More »

MV Transportation lays groundwork for strong success in their transition to TransDev

MV transportation members met to discuss their upcoming transition to Transdev. This group is excited to move to a new company and contract, where they can change from the old power dynamic and take a much more active role at their new workplace.

This transition means these members are charting their own path and have a strong voice in the process to succeed.

Paratransit (short for “parallel transit”) is a transportation service designed to accommodate people who cannot use regular fixed-route public transit due to physical, cognitive, or other disabilities. It offers door-to-door or curb-to-curb rides using accessible vans or minibuses. Para-Transit work is simply amazing work done by amazing members. They work hard every day to ensure the most vulnerable members of society are taken care of.

Stay tuned as this unfolds. We encourage every member to speak up and take their place as a contributing member of this transition. Trust each other, trust your Union Representation, and trust your committee. And let’s move forward together.

MV Transportation lays groundwork for strong success in their transition to TransDev Read More »

Job Opportunities within Teamsters Local 853 – Check Back Frequently – new posting will be added at the top of this page

GILLIG Assembler of Heavy-Duty Transit Buses

 Assembler Req. 859 job posting is live and accepting applications again.

Hourly Rate: 
$37.84 per hour

You can view the posting here:  https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/gillig/jobs/6620992

Members with CDL with Passenger Endorsement and/or Air Brake Endorsement (Need all credentials when they apply)

WeDriveU, Inc.

Apply at WeDriveU.com

Pay Ranges:
CDL Passenger and Air Brake Endorsement
$34.89 -$36.22, Current
$36.03 – $37.40, Effective July 1, 2025

CDL Passenger Endorsement without Air Brake Endorsement
$30.91, Current
$31.92, Effective July 1, 2025

Class C
$28.26, Current
$29.17, Effective July 1, 2025

Teamsters Managed healthcare – Kaiser
401K, A $4.00 contribution per hours up to 2080 hrs., and a 4% Match
12 Paid Holidays, 1 Floating Holiday

Hallcon Corporation

Apply at Hallcon.com

Pay Ranges:
CDL Passenger and Air Brake Endorsement
$34.89 -$36.22, Current
$36.03 – $37.40, Effective July 1, 2025

CDL Passenger Endorsement without Air Brake Endorsement
$30.91, Current
$31.92, Effective July 1, 2025

Class C
$28.26, Current
$29.17 Effective July 1, 2025

Teamsters Managed healthcare – Kaiser
401K, A $4.00 contribution per hours up to 2080 hrs., and a 4% Match
12 Paid Holidays, 1 Floating Holiday

Members with a CDL without Passenger Endorsement, with or without Air Brake Endorsement.

Transdev North America – SFMTA Paratransit – San Francisco

Apply at transdevna.com

Scott Hollis HR Manager, 530-276-6593

Pay Ranges:
Starting Pay Rate: $26.15, Current. Effective July 1, 2025, $26.70

Company Benefits at low cost
Paid Holidays
401K Matching

Transdev North America – Eastbay Paratransit – Alameda County

Apply at transdevna.com
Antoinette Harris, Operations Manager, 510-379-6196

Pay Ranges:
Starting Pay Rate: 
$26.00, Current. Effective July 1, 2025, $26.65

Teamsters Managed Healthcare - Kaiser
Paid Holidays
401K Matching

Zum School Services – Oakland and Alameda Unified School District

Apply at ridezum.com

Leslie Jordon, Operations Manager, 510-355-2076

Starting Pay Rate: 
$31.05 currently, effective August 1, 2025, $32.80

Drivers can be experience rates with a tenure of School Bus Certification. With a School Bus Certificate for the last five years, the starting pay rate is $40.37 currently. Effective August 1, 2025 $42.12.
Non-commercial (Class C) starting rate $26.52 currently, effective August 1, 2025 $26.67.

Paid Training
Five hours Guarantee
401k Matching

Storer Transit Systems – Hayward Unified School District

Apply at Storerbus.com

Christina Mestayer, General Manager, 510-931-1089

Starting Pay Rate: 
$30.21 currently, effective July 1, 2025 $30.81

Drivers can be experience rates with a tenure of School Bus Certification. With a School Bus Certificate for the last five years, the starting pay rate is $39.54 currently. Effective July 1, 2025 $40.33.

Non-commercial (Class C) starting rate $26.00 currently, effective July 1  2025 $26.52.

Paid Training
Five and half hour Guarantee
401k Matching
Paid Holidays

First Student – San Jose (School Bus and Charter)

Apply at Firststudentinc.com

Bertha Chavez, Location Manager, 408-421-5847

Starting Pay Rate: 
$32.36 currently, effective September 1, 2025 $33.49

Drivers can be experience rates with a tenure of School Bus Certification. With a School Bus Certificate for the last five years, the starting pay rate is $38.00 currently. Effective September 1, 2025 $39.33

Air Brake Premium $2.00 per hour

Paid Training
Six hour Guarantee
401k Matching
Paid Holidays

Opportunities at Canteen

From: Escamilla, Angelica Angelica.Escamilla@compass-usa.com
Sent: Monday, June 2, 2025 4:00 PM
To: Ross, Kathleen kathleen.ross@compass-usa.com; Lyle Funderburk lfunderburk@Teamsters853.org
Subject: Re: [Ext] [External] Job Openings

Hi guys,

Here are the links to open positions within our branch:

Mechanic (i.e. technician)
https://jobs.compassgroupcareers.com/job-invite/1421473/

Order Builder (San Leandro)
https://jobs.compassgroupcareers.com/job-invite/1416789/

Order Builder (Fremont)
https://jobs.compassgroupcareers.com/job-invite/1421813/


www.canteen.com

Angelica Escamilla | Office Manager
m. 510-391-0193 | angelica.escamilla@compass-usa.com
Bay Area Vending and Markets | Compass Group NA

Job Opportunities within Teamsters Local 853 – Check Back Frequently – new posting will be added at the top of this page Read More »

50 Years plus of experiece between two leaders inspires confidence to move aggressively forward

Meet Chief Stewards Tayde Rodriguez and Tony Montano at MV Transportation. Together, they have over 50 years of combined experience in the Paratransit industry.

Last month, we met with Transdev to negotiate a transition agreement as their current employer, MV Transportation, lost their bid with the Valley Transportation Authority(VTA).

What would have been an otherwise challenging time for less seasoned leaders, Tayde and Tony’s voices gave levity to the complex challenges that Paratransit Teamsters Local 853 members have been facing over the last few years. The years of dedication that Stewards like Tayde and Tony have put into rising above and helping out their fellow members is selfless work, and we want to recognize their efforts.

“Now our members are excited about the chance to have a fresh start at our San Jose location,” said Business Agent David Crawford. “The opportunity for leaders like Tayde and Tony to sit across the table with the company and chart their carefully thought-out strategy makes us all successful during challenging times. These stewards are an inspiring example of how experience and leadership help motivate all of our members to be invested, informed, and vocal.”

50 Years plus of experiece between two leaders inspires confidence to move aggressively forward Read More »

These TransDev/Ride Plus Workers In Redwood City are having the rug pulled out from under them during negotiations

On April 24, employees of TransDev/Ride Plus in Redwood City voted to join Teamsters Local 853 and pre-ratified a contract that includes the same “No Strike – No Lockout” provisions found in agreements with TransDev workers nationwide. This language is standard across the country and appears in contracts covering thousands of TransDev employees. It serves a critical role in protecting workers’ rights, ensuring they retain the power to take action when all other efforts for fair treatment have failed. The “No Strike – No Lockout” clause is a cornerstone of union rights and must never be surrendered under any contract.

But this is what TransDev is trying to do with our new Sisters and Brothers in Redwood City. They have stalled negotiations on this specific point. Taking away this fundamental right for workers to stand together, for each other.

So we are asking for your support of these workers by building an awareness campaign. Know that, like so many first contracts before, these workers at TransDev Redwood City are standing together and demanding the language they deserve in their contract.

Please stay tuned, more to come on their struggle.

These TransDev/Ride Plus Workers In Redwood City are having the rug pulled out from under them during negotiations Read More »

Transdev Member Rights Document and Contract Update

Transdev is holding back the pre-ratified contract because of language that has been accepted across the country. They want you to give up your right to No Strike and No Lockout language in your contract.

No Strike and No Lockout language is one of the fundamental tools Teamsters use when all other options to get the company to treat you fairly have been exhausted. It is a lynchpin that holds basic Union rights together.

As the bargaining representatives for Ride Plus members, we will continue to press for this crucial language in your contract with the company, and nationally, all eyes are on your group. Please be aware of your rights as explained in the following attachments, and stand strong against this attempt to gut your rights.

Stay tuned for further communications.


Stay tuned for further communications.

Contact me at any time if you want to discuss further at:
Cell: 415-425-3439
Email: tkelley@teamsters853.org

Tracy Kelley

Business Representative and Organizer
Teamsters Local 853

Transdev Member Rights Document and Contract Update Read More »

Another fun time at the JC7 annual ball game

The 2025 JC7 Ballgame was another success this year. A 100% ticket sellout event. It was a perfect day, blue skys and great temperatures.

“This is a great event every year for Teamsters Local 853” said Steve Beck, Teamsters 853 Secretary-Treasurer and Principal Officer. “When we get together with our larger JC7 family like this, it is inspiring. Our Unity and strength are on full display, and it’s a testament to decades of hard work, progress, and success for workers.”

To every member who came out, we hope you and your families had a great time. Hope to see you again next year!!

Another fun time at the JC7 annual ball game Read More »