Brian Fisher

WORK CHANGE: WeDriveU-Applied Materials to ABM

Frequently Asked Questions:

Why is this happening:

ABM has been awarded the new contract to provide service to Applied Materials. They have already had a meet-and-greet at Applied Materials campus with many of you. This change is not a reflection of the quality of service, this is about cost. This is not a reflection on you as the providers of the service.

The language of the contract allows you to follow your work under circumstances like this. It protects your seniority when the client changes the provider of the service. These changes are no fault of your own. You have no control of the situation. You would need to start over every time and hope that they hire you. You do not need to start over every time this happens.

When is our last day of Service:

WeDriveU notified all Applied Materials Drivers their last day of providing service at Applied Materials will be April 30. WeDriveu will lay off all drivers who do not remain with the company.

ABM begins service on May 1, 2025.

Drivers Remaining at WeDriveU:

Those drivers that remain at WeDriveU are selected by Yard Seniority, starting with the most senior driver. There are approximately 5-6 positions available at WeDriveU.

Following Work to ABM:

Therefore, those that are not in the seniority group to stay at WeDriveU will need to follow work to ABM to remain employed and to preserve your seniority on account. In addition, preserve your recall rights to return to WeDriveU based on your Yard Seniority.

ABM will coordinate the onboarding process. You will need to apply with ABM to maintain your seniority on the account.

If you decline to follow your work, your seniority will be broken. You no longer have recall rights to return to WeDriveU. You must follow work to retain recall.

What are my Wages and Benefits:

You will continue to be covered under the same terms as the Master Shuttle Agreement. Your wages, benefits, vacation accrual, 401k contributions and sick time will be the same.

Teamster Local 665:

ABM employees are represented by Teamsters Local 665 in many locations. The Local has a long history of representing workers at this company. You will need to complete a Membership Application for Local 665. Florencio “Flo” Sinogui is the Business Agent for the driver of Applied Materials. He can be reached at 415-825-0694. Flo is available to answer questions related to the transition.

WORK CHANGE: WeDriveU-Applied Materials to ABM Read More »

Bus Drivers at Zum School Services-Alameda, Join Teamsters Local 853

Bus drivers at Zum School Services in Alameda—previously a non-union group—have officially joined the Teamster family through their unionized counterparts at Zum in Oakland. This group of 44 current drivers, along with 18 soon-to-be new hires, will now enjoy the benefits of higher wages, lower healthcare costs, strong representation, and a solid grievance process.

Thanks to a signed letter of understanding with the company, the Alameda drivers will now be covered under the existing Oakland agreement as of April 1. Because of this agreement, a formal vote was not required.

We’re proud to welcome these drivers to Teamsters Local 853 and congratulate them on this important step forward!

Pictured are some of the new members filling out their membership applications.

Bus Drivers at Zum School Services-Alameda, Join Teamsters Local 853 Read More »

State of our Union Two Years In

Sisters and Brothers,
It has been a little over two years since you elected our administration, and we are happy to report to you that the state of our Union is Strong.

“because of you” [Steve, this might be a good place to write your personal message, etc etc]

So, let’s get to it and give you an update by the numbers:

Contracts: Teamsters Local 853 has secured more record contracts in the past two years than at almost any other time in our recent history. This success stems from a strong unity among our members and the guidance of our Business Agents, who identify legitimate opportunities and help members work toward these goals together. Unity means trusting one another, trusting the negotiating committee, and trusting the Local’s guidance to vote as a well-informed group. This formula has proven successful in nearly every contract over the past two years.

[Steve, I added Efren’s group even though they will not contribute to the Local’s bottom line – we still organized them]

Organizing: Recruiting new members is the lifeblood of any union, and the mantra “Grow or Die” rings true here. In the past two years, we’ve added more new members than in the previous 10 years combined, organizing roughly 500 new members. This is an outstanding achievement, one that marks our best performance in over a decade.

Staffing: Adding Business Agents and staff is always a balance between meeting member needs and managing finances. Teamsters Local 853’s finances have allowed us to expand in areas where we were lacking. In total, we’ve added four new full-time Business Agents, with only two retiring. This means we now have two additional Business Agents to address areas of need, while still maintaining a positive cash flow. After covering the costs of the new BAs, we continue to take in more money than we spend. This is how its done responsibly.

Finances: If you come to the member meetings, you will hear financial reports delivered to the members monthly. And what you will hear is that Teamsters Local 853’s cash flow is positive, meaning we are taking in more money and saving some of it for rainy day or unexpected future expenditures. Our financial house is in order. We are ready for our future.

[Steve, the weird economic and political shit is going to be happening that I suspect may impact Unions quite a bit over the next few years. I believe its important to acknowledge this with the members for two reasons. 1. Subtle way to get the members to connect their votes to their pocketbooks. 2. If shit hits the fan and lets say contracts get more challenging due to economic downturn, or organizing gets thwarted due to lack of NLRB support, we NEED an “I told you this might happen” and rightly blame the economy, not the EB for the problems. ]

Economic Future: Uncertainty in our economy often goes hand in hand with the strength and stability of our union. It would be irresponsible not to acknowledge that the current economic and political climate is concerning. We see the challenges ahead and are actively preparing for their potential impact. The good news is that we are ready. Our union has secured strong contracts in a wide range of political and economic environments before, and we are committed to doing so again. That said, it’s important to recognize how closely our success is tied to broader and local political conditions. This is why we dedicate so much effort to supporting candidates who stand with unions. Without lawmakers who champion policies that protect and uplift workers, the work we do would be far more difficult—if not impossible.

So, on behalf of the entire Executive Board, I want to once again tell you that the State of Teamsters Local 853 is strong, secure, and ready for our future.

But I will always say it, that what makes Teamsters Local 853 great is YOU our members, and the unity you bring. Good contracts, good growth, good finances, and good politics come from a membership that is well-informed, active, and most of all, unified.

If you want to get more connected to us, please sign up here for our email list and like and follow our Facebook and Instagram pages, where you will see updates daily on what we are doing at the local to maintain the above pillars of success.

In Union,
Steve Beck, Secretary-Treasurer and Principal Officer
Steven Lua, President
Ray Torres, Vice-President
Mike Henneberry, Recording Secretary
Trustee Joel Bellison
Trustee Andrew Nunes
Trustee Gloria Segura

State of our Union Two Years In Read More »

JC7 Locals Rally Around Striking Teamsters Who Went on to Secure an Industry-Leading Contract

Deciding to go on Strike is akin to going to war and should never be taken lightly. Before reaching this point, workers must exhaust every possible option to resolve disputes. So when Teamsters 853 members were asked, “Have you explored every possible avenue to secure a fair contract?” and they answered “YES,” yet still faced an impasse, they had no choice but to take action.

This was the circumstance for 177 drivers at US Foods in Livermore who voted last year to join Teamsters Local 853, determined to lock down the security and future they deserve for the work they do.

Living in the Bay Area, one of the most expensive places in the world comes with unique circumstances for workers. Without contractual support for long-term economics like health care, wages, and pensions, workers are left with a choice to either move away or start working more overtime. Most of us would like to think that we could continue to live in the house we raised our children in well into retirement, but this was moving out of reach for these members in their current situation.

So when they went on Strike, Teamsters 853 leadership called to ask for support for these members, and JC7 locals from across the Bay Area met the moment. For eight(8) days, these members, along with support from so many JC7 locals, walked the line. Not a single day went by without seeing members show up from other locals. Because of so much public visibility and pressure on the company, at the beginning of week two(II), an agreement was reached and proposed to the members. The company had had enough, and the workers were satisfied and ready to get back to their jobs with a victory in hand.

The result? A groundbreaking contract featuring a 13% wage increase on top of already competitive pay, improved workplace safety, paid administrative leave, and significant reductions in health care costs. This agreement stands as one of the strongest in the food delivery industry—a testament to the power of unity and collective action.

“I was so proud and humbled to have stood with all of these members through this fight,” said Ray Torres, Teamsters Local 853 Vice President and Strike Captain. “Their determination and desire for something better is a welcome addition to our Teamster Family at 853.”

Teamsters Local 853 Principal Officer Steve Beck echoed this sentiment: “These new members showed remarkable strength in the face of adversity. Their perseverance has earned them a new family within Teamsters Local 853, and we celebrate this monumental victory with them!” He continued, “But this win wasn’t just theirs—it was made possible by the unwavering support of the entire Teamster community. I want to personally thank Strike Captain Ray Torres and all the 853 Business Agents who stood by our members day and night, as well as Peter Finn and the leadership of Joint Council 7, Teamsters Warehouse Division Director Tom Erickson, and all the NorCal Teamsters Locals who played a part in making this strike a success. Their commitment did not go unnoticed. Under the leadership of General President Sean O’Brien, Teamsters are standing up and achieving unprecedented victories—and we are determined to keep that momentum going!”

Last Thought on the difficulty of striking: A Strike is no easy thing. A member decides that their long-term financial security takes priority over their current day-to-day financial security. They must lean on each other and stay focused, determined, and resilient in the face of this uncertainty. And that takes real courage. These members made the call and stepped up and earned this win. Congratulations to all the US Foods Teamsters in Livermore.

JC7 Locals Rally Around Striking Teamsters Who Went on to Secure an Industry-Leading Contract Read More »

US Foods Drivers End Strike – Secures Industry Leading Contract for Food Service industry

Teamsters Local 853 is excited to announce the end of the US Foods strike in Livermore, where a proposal was just voted on and has been ratified by the membership.

Point blank, this was an incredible, industry-leading contract that secured significant wage gains, badly needed health care relief and safety language that allowed the drivers to determine whether routes and trucks are safe to work, and authority to remedy safety concerns.

This contract has been a struggle from the start. These drivers voted to join the Teamsters in 2024 and, for many months, have been negotiating with the company. When things soured and their backs were against the wall, they had no choice but to strike. It was a decision that was not taken lightly.

“I was so proud and humbled to have stood with all of these members through this fight,” said Ray Torres, Teamsters Local 853 Vice President and Strike Captain. “Their determination and desire for something better is a very welcome addition to our over 13,000-person strong Teamster Family at 853.”

This was a Teamster community effort. We want to recognize all of the members and other locals who took the time to stand with our members. Your support was critical in keeping the momentum and motivation up.

Special shout out to Director of the Teamsters Warehouse Division, Tom Erickson, for his guidance and support, and everyone who contributed at the IBT.

Stay tuned to this space, as there will be more to come, but for now, we want to recognize and congratulate every one of the drivers at US Foods in Livermore!!!!!!!

US Foods Drivers End Strike – Secures Industry Leading Contract for Food Service industry Read More »

Local 853 Costco Members Ratify Best Contract Yet

On Friday, March 7, Local 853 Costco Teamsters and Costco Teamsters across the country ratified a new three-year contract. The agreement includes wage increases, a twenty-two percent pension increase, premium increases, improved vacation, and, critically, a provision to make it easier to organize non-union employees for enhanced power at the bargaining table.

The approval of the agreement comes after months of arduous negotiations that took place all over the country, as is appropriate for a national agreement. In addition, rallies were held coast to coast, including a practice picket at the Hayward Business Center that brought together members from across Northern California.

Local 853 Costco Teamsters stood up and fought like they always do and ended up with the best contract in retail. Congratulations to all the members who made this win possible.

Local 853 Costco Members Ratify Best Contract Yet Read More »

THESE 177 NEW TEAMSTERS AT US FOODS ARE ON STRIKE, CAN YOU SUPPORT THEM?

Deciding to go on Strike is somewhat like going to war and should never be taken lightly. Every exhaustible position must be tried between the opposing parties before they reach this boiling point. So when these Teamster members were asked, “Have you explored every possible avenue to secure a fair contract?” and they answered “YES,” yet a contract still wasn’t reached, they had no choice but to go on strike.

This is the circumstance for 177 drivers at US Foods in Livermore who voted last year to join Teamsters Local 853, in search of securing the security and future they deserve for the work they do. The sticking points and goals have always revolved around long-term economics, such as health care and retirement.

Living in the Bay Area, one of the most expensive places in the world, comes with exceptional circumstances for workers. Because these members understand this and believe so passionately in long-term security, they were willing to sacrifice their own income to divert into a retirement plan with no cost to the company. But without contractual support for these goals, post retirement, these members will be left with a choice to either move away or start working more overtime hours now to improve their long-term economic viability. Most of us would like to think that we could continue to live in the house we raised our children in well into retirement, but this seems out of reach for these members at this point.

So we are asking ALL of the Teamsters in the Bay Area to help these new member secure their future by walking the picket line and supporting these members in Livermore. US Foods has recently announced year-over-year record Net Profits, and these drivers helped put them there. So let’s support these members and show our Bay Area communities that when Teamsters Strike, we have each other’s backs.

Where: 
US Foods | Distribution Center
300 Lawrence Dr, Livermore, CA 94551
When:
Any time after 7 PM, Sunday, March 2nd
Indefinitely

Contact:
For any additional information on the Strike
contact Teamsters Local 853 Vice-President Ray Torres at: ‭(661) 903-2980‬

ONLINE SOCIAL MEDIA CONTENT

Generic Post Text Ideas

These new Teamsters at Local 853 have exhausted every avenue at the bargaining table and are at the end of their rope.  So they have chosen to STRIKE!! 

If you are available to support our fellow Teamsters, please join them and walk the picket line. SHOW UP, BE LOUD, let US FOODS know we’re gonna fight hard, and do what it takes!

Where:
US Foods | Distribution Center
300 Lawrence Dr, Livermore, CA 94551
When:
Any time after 7 PM, Sunday, March 2nd
Indefinitely

Contact:
For any additional information on the Strike
contact Teamsters Local 853 Vice-President Ray Torres at: ‭(661) 903-2980‬

Just Right Click to Download – Save Image As

Walking the line

THESE 177 NEW TEAMSTERS AT US FOODS ARE ON STRIKE, CAN YOU SUPPORT THEM? Read More »

Teamsters Local 912, now 853, was the center of the Universe in the 1980s during the Watsonville Strike – watch the Movie, March 8th

Sisters and Brothers,

During a time when Ronald Reagan broke the back of the Air Traffic Controllers, Union work and protections was heavily debated. It was during this time that these Teamsters went on Strike for eighteen(18) months as a beacon of solidarity and justice for the workers who make all the money for the frozen foods corporations in Watsonville.

On March 8th, there will be a screening of a documentary that highlights their struggle. This is a significant part of the history of the Parajo Valley. Don’t miss the opportunity to understand what the workers before you had to do to establish the rights, wages, and benefits you now enjoy. And the legacy they have left you.

Be sure to get tickets in advance here at this link 👉 Watsonville on Strike.

Also showing after is a follow-up documentary: Daughters of the Strike / Hijas de la huelga. (This short film features sisters Blanca and Wendy, and their mother Sylvia, a former cannery worker and one of the striking workers during the historic Watsonville Cannery Strike of the mid-1980s. )

CineLux Green Valley Cinema
Movie Theater
1125 South Green Valley Road Watsonville, CA 95076
March 8, 2025, 6:30 - 8:30 PM PST

Watsonville On Strike is an intimate portrait of the 18-month cannery workers’ strike which virtually paralyzed this rural California town

This superb documentary showing the unvarnished facts of long, hard-fought labor battle–workers united, workers divided, the high and low points–may be the best introduction yet available to the realities of class struggle as it exists today. 

–Jessica Mitford, Author

Update: March 20th

Teamsters 853 Business Agents Santos Lerma, Gloria Segura, and Ralph Campos were in attendance for this film. Below are some of the women who participated in the strike and attended the showing. 18 Months was the strike of all strikes. These members are amazing.

Teamsters Local 912, now 853, was the center of the Universe in the 1980s during the Watsonville Strike – watch the Movie, March 8th Read More »

Genesis Logistics Members stand Unified as contract vote comes in at a perfect 100%

Teamsters at Genesis Logistics have just ratified their new three-year contract. These warehouse workers and drivers have the task of keeping all of the Seven-Eleven convenience stores in the Bay Area stocked. The warehouse picks, preps, and loads, and drivers deliver all the goods to stores as far north as Yuba City, east to Sacramento, and a little south of Fresno.

The contract had no takeaways, meaning nothing was lost from the previous contract. There were significant gains in wages and benefits, as well as increased protections in the language of the contract.

The negotiating committee really deserves credit for keeping the group together,” said Business Agent Efren Alarcon; “the vote was unanimous, and he secured a full recommendation. Special thanks to Steward Pete Hall, Steward Miguel Muñoz, and Steward Trent Rivera. 100% votes is very uncommon and shows the strength of this new three-year contract. Very well done.”

Let’s all get behind these Teamsters for a job well done and for sticking together to secure a strong future.

Pictured from left to right are Michael Vasquez, Driver & Member; Jim Borden, a 31-year Teamster; and 25-year Teamster & Steward Peter Hall.

Genesis Logistics Members stand Unified as contract vote comes in at a perfect 100% Read More »