Transdev has backed out of pre-negotiated contract language that has been accepted all across the country. They want you to give up your right to Strike and Lockout language in your contract. Strike and lockout language is one of the fundamental tools Teamsters use when all other options have been exhausted. It is a lynchpin that holds basic Union rights together, and gives us leverage when all else has failed.
As your negotiating committee continues to press for this crucial language in your contract, 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.
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
Congratulations to all of the members at Matagrano, a family-owned distributor of Anheuser-Busch products. This group of 220 Teamster 853 members secured the best wage increase to date, added to their pension and medical. The vote was overwhelmingly in favor.
Members at Matagrano serve a large distribution area that covers San Francisco City and County, all of San Mateo County, and all of Santa Clara County.
“This was a very good contract process,” said Business Agent Efren Alarcon, “The members got together early; the negotiating committee did an excellent job of understanding the needs of the members, standing up for those needs with the company, and keeping the members well informed throughout the entire process.”
Hats off to every member who put the time in, lent their voice and opinion, and voted with a good working knowledge of what was achievable. The end result was very good gains, and they got it!!
The Teamsters Women’s Conference is an annual event organized by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) to empower, educate, and unite women across the union. It serves as a platform for Teamster women to connect, share experiences, and develop leadership skills that strengthen their roles within the labor movement.
Purpose and Goals
The conference aims to:
Foster Leadership: Encourage women to take on leadership roles within their locals and the broader union structure.Teamsters Canada
Provide Education: Offer workshops and training sessions on topics such as workplace rights, organizing strategies, and personal development.
Build Solidarity: Create a supportive network where Teamster women can collaborate and advocate for common goals.
Address Challenges: Discuss and develop strategies to overcome issues faced by women in the workforce and within the union.
Teamsters 853 Applicants
Teamsters Local 853 is doing something different as they choose which women members will represent Teamsters Local 853 in Toronto this year.
We will be offering a digital raffle-style drawing because we have many deserving members who want to attend every year, so we decided this was the fairest way to make this event accessible to all members who qualify.
Applicants are to fill out the form below. Our trustees will hold a drawing video to announce the winners, which will be sent to all of the applicants.
** Participation is only available to members who have NEVER attended a Teamsters Women's Conference in the past. ** Applicants MUST have a valid passport. ** Canada is very strict regarding criminal records. Even if you have a misdemeanor on your record, you will be denied. ** Please note, Teamsters Local 853 will not fund any extra days beyond the conference. Should you choose to stay, all costs must be incurred by the member.
Dates and Schedule
The Teamsters 2025 Women’s Conference is scheduled for Sunday, August 24, through Wednesday, August 27, 2025, in Toronto, Canada, at the Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel.
Sunday, August 24, 2025 Travel Day, Registration, and Exhibits
Monday, August 25, 2025 Registration, Exhibits, afternoon opening, General Session, and evening Welcome Reception
Tuesday, August 26, 2025 Registration, Exhibits, and Workshops
Wednesday, August 27, 2025 Registration, Workshops, and Closing General Session
Teamsters Local 853 held a mandatory half-day training for all Business Agents. A shout out to IBT Strategic Campaign Coordinator and Teamster 853 Member, Nupur Modi-Parekh. Nupur took the agents through a step-by-step process on how to get more members involved with their union during both crucial times, like contract negotiations preparation, and in everyday addressing of member needs.
“Regardless of your experience level, everyone can learn more from additional training. We would be doing an injustice to the job if we weren’t constantly improving how we serve our members.” Said Secretary-Treasurer Steve Beck. “We will be holding more and more training sessions like this to continue to make us better.”
At the training, there was considerable focus on how to draw out and better involve all the members of our union. Every member who decides to get off the sidelines and go to a meeting, help out in their workplace, or learn more about the work we all do is a tremendous success in strengthening our union.
So get involved, go to a member meeting, get on our email list, and talk to your Business Agent or Steward. We need your strength.
When an organized group wins a ruling of Unfair Labor Practices(ULP) as the members at Premier Recycling did, by federal law, the company must post and read aloud the below posting at every employment location and during every shift and leave posted for 60 days.
This is the procedure that was followed last week as the company read aloud and posted the below document with Teamsters 853 Business Agent, James Long, 853 Attorney, and NLRB compliance officer present during each shift change at 9 AM /930 AM /10 AM /1030 AM/430 PM.
This is the power of federal laws put in place decades ago to protect workers.
Congratulations to all of the members at Premier who endured three long years for justice. Your group is a model of determination, and on behalf of every Teamster 853 member, we salute your grit.
Big congratulations to the drivers at Transdev – Ride Plus Microtransit for SamTrans. Last week, they unanimously voted on their first contract after winning their organizing campaign. They received significant pay increases, 401 (k) matching, and improved healthcare. And of course, the most important part, the structure of a union contract, which will protect them on the job both for physical safety and against any unfair labor practices.
On behalf of the entire Teamster 853 organization, we would like to welcome these members to our family.
The members at Ferguson HVAC had something to celebrate last week as they finished contract negotiations with significant wage increases, significant pension increases, better drive-cam language, and a shortened probationary period and progression for new hires.
What more could you ask for: wages for today, pension for tomorrow, and privacy protection language.
“We identified our points of opportunity, stayed focused and unified, and brought home a win-win contract that was good for our members while giving appropriate respect for the company,” said Ray Torres, Teamster Local 853 Vice President.
Join us in congratulating these Teamster 853 members for a job well done!!!
One of the incredible things about Teamsters Local 853 is its diversity. We have over 300 different companies that we contract with. There are drivers, warehouse workers, line workers, food services, farming, health care, zookeepers, and the list goes on. This mix, very much like our country, is a melting pot of so many different types of work and workers.
Today, we are welcoming another new group that does some incredible work. They are from the Center for Community Advocacy out of Salinas, CA. They have, for the past 34 years, worked to support and empower farmworkers and their families. They work alongside them to improve living conditions, advocate for affordable housing, and expand access to healthcare and resources. Many of those they help are in our South Bay Teamster community working for the food industry in the Parajo Valley.
So, on behalf of Teamsters Local 853, we would like to welcome Joel, Sabino, and the Center for Community Advocacy to our family.
Workers who guide women battling cancer have won a significant victory for themselves. On April 17th, fifteen employees at Latinas Contra Cancer (Latinas Against Cancer) voted to become Teamsters. In a card check election overseen by Jean Cohen from the South Bay Labor Council & Maria Noel Fernandez from Working Partnerships USA it was determined that an overwhelming majority of the employees wanted to join North America’s strongest union. Darcie Green, CEO of the non-profit, was present to observe the process and upon hearing the results of the vote immediately recognized Local 853 as the bargaining agent for the new Teamsters and indicated she was ready to commence negotiations.
“It is a rare day when the union is able to sit down with an employer and with a minimum of BS bring a new group of workers into the Teamsters. It is a testament to the righteousness of the work our new members perform, guiding women through some of the scariest times of their lives and the passion with which the organization is led to accomplish its worthy goals,” said Steve Beck, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 853. Working together, the union and the company will make a big difference for women dealing with cancer while making sure the new members doing the hard work are secure as well.
