Brian Fisher

What Does the Union Do For Me Anyway

These are drivers from Mosaic Global Transportation and inter-campus drivers from Meta.

Due to the way the corporation has set up its business to maximize profits at workers’ expense, Meta and other companies rehire different driver companies roughly every year. If these members did not have a union contract with language to keep their standing and seniority, they would have to start over each time Meta chose a new company.

Without Union Representation

That’s right; imagine if you had to move to a new company every year and lose your seniority, pay scale, and benefits. This is a reality of employment outside of Union work.

With Union Representation

With the Union, these drivers have a career; without it, they would just be starting over every time the company hired a new driving contractor.

Real-world careers are built and protected.

As an example, these members followed their work from WeDriveU to Mosaic last year in March. Meta has now awarded the work back to WeDriveU. Seriously, it’s like a yo-yo. It will be exactly one year since the last transition.

This has happened ten(10) times since 2019 at a dizzying pace – and each time Teamsters 853 members are protected.

Compass to WeDriveU - Tesla,
Compass to WeDriveU - Genentech, 
Compass to WeDriveU - Netflix;
WeDriveU to Hallcon - Amazon, 
WeDriveU to Storer - Meta Coach, 
WeDriveU - Meta Inter campus to Mosaic; 
Hallcon to Mosaic -Meta Coach; 
Mosaic to WeDriveU - Meta inter campus, 
Mosaic to Hallcon - Meta Coach; 
Storer to Hallcon and 
WeDriveU -Meta Coach.

The contract language in the master shuttle agreement protects the drivers every time one contractor loses a client to another; they do not have to start over. Having a career in this industry would frankly be impossible without the Union. It’s also a clear example of how corporations have set rules that would destroy an employee’s chance at a career and only focus on maximizing profits for the corporation.

This is what the union does for the members. Day in and day out, 24-7, in every industry we serve. Protect the interest of the workers it serves.

Content and Story provided by Business Agent Tracy Kelley

What Does the Union Do For Me Anyway Read More »

VISTAR DRIVERS, Welcome to Teamsters Local 853

VISTAR Brothers,
My name is Steve Beck, I am the secretary-treasurer and Principal Officer at Teamsters Local 853. I am responsible for leading Teamsters Local 853.

Congratulations on the vote you recently took to become a Teamster. I want to welcome you into our Teamster family formally. I have already heard about and witnessed the unity your group has shown, which propelled you to a high-margin win on your vote. This unity is going to serve you well.

Teamsters Local 853 represents 13,000 members just like you in the Bay Area from over 300 companies. We have considerable expertise in negotiating good contracts in your industry. Drivers at USFOODS, Coremark, UNFI, Sysco Foods, and Performance Food Groups are all Teamsters 853 members, so we know what fair wages and benefits look like in this industry, and we will be fighting to get you the salary and benefits you deserve for the work you provide.

We need your help and your participation.

For as long as I am here, you will hear me talk about the most important thing about being in a union. That is to be a well-informed member and to participate in the Teamster activities that affect you and your fellow members.

Unions are only as effective as their members’ unity and motivation to take a stand and help each other. Unity in numbers is how we get good contracts against greedy employers and how we get labor-friendly legislation. We vote for politicians who understand and support the working women and men who live in our communities, and we show up and use our collective voices to protest injustice in the workplace.

This is a battle between corporations whose sole mission is to make as much money as possible by any legal means… and the workers who usually deserve more than they get from those employers.

What can you do to start things off?

Please start getting involved now by signing up to our email list, where you will get important information on events that affect you and your coworkers here:

Sign Up

Follow our feeds on Facebook and Instagram, where you will regularly see members like you all over the Bay Area and the work they do.

On behalf of myself, Steven Lua, our President, and the entire staff at Teamsters Local 853, welcome again, and let’s do this smartly and together, the Union way.

In Union,
Steve Beck

VISTAR DRIVERS, Welcome to Teamsters Local 853 Read More »

UNFI Ratified historic contract with Union healthcare and pension!!! Just weeks after collecting 1.3 Million in back Pay.

Drivers at UNFI Gilroy have just secured a historic contract with the company. And just weeks after forty-two(42) UNFI Teamster members secured 1.3 million dollars of back pay that was owed to them due to a wage calculation error.

This was a very strong second contract win for the members at UNFI. Not only increasing their wages above market rate but also securing Union Healthcare and Pensions.

“I am so proud of these members. These drivers did what works.” Said Teamsters Local 853 Vice President and UNFI Business Agent Ray Torres, “First, they determined what was important to them in this contract. Then, they determined a fair level of compensation based on their performance. Then most importantly, they trusted each other and the judgment of the leadership and negotiating committee and showed willingness to strike for those earnings.”

“We held the line strong,” said Ruben Lopez, the Chief Steward for UNFI “when we bargained the first contract, we knew we might not get everything we wanted, but this second time around because everyone held together, we advanced our positions on the Healthcare and Pension, and proved our worth over the past 3 years. This group deserves my highest praise.”

When presented in this way, the company understood that they needed to share their profits with the employees who made them successful.

UNFI is one of the four major Food Service Industry Trucking companies, along with PFG(Performance Food Groups/VISTAR), USFOODS, and SYSCO FOODS, that Teamsters Local 853 represent in the Bay Area.

If you know of any drivers or warehouse workers that are in the Bay Area food service industry not under Union Contract, let us know. If they want to be fairly compensated and protected for their work, let’s actively work to get them into our Teamster family for their sake and the sake of their families.

UNFI Ratified historic contract with Union healthcare and pension!!! Just weeks after collecting 1.3 Million in back Pay. Read More »

Teamsters at Bimbo Bakeries, Castroville, in negotiatins for their next conract

Pictured here are just a few of the outstanding Teamsters 853 from Bimbo Bakeries Castroville. Led by Chief Steward Louis, this group is coordinating the charge in their current contract fight. “I am very proud of this group and all of our members at Bimbo. They are refusing to accept anything other than what they deserve.” Said Business Agent David Crawford. “These members serve our community every day and ensure that people have food on their table. Without their dedication and sacrifice, the community they serve would suffer. We owe them our support in this contract fight”.

Stay tuned as this negotiation unfolds!!

Teamsters at Bimbo Bakeries, Castroville, in negotiatins for their next conract Read More »

VISTAR Drivers Vote Overwhelmingly to Join Teamsters Local 853

To all Teamster 853 members,

📣📣🥳🥳👏🎉 Please join us in welcoming our newest members, who just today voted to join our ranks.

These 29 drivers at VISTAR voted to join Teamsters Local 853, and were solid from start to finish. We are looking forward to getting them the wages, benefits, and job protections they have earned on the job. And in return, we feel this energetic, solid group will be great members, and a great addition to our Teamster family.

“A model of determination and unity, this group has shown courage from the very beginning,” said Teamsters Local 853 Vice President Ray Torres, “They stood up to the Union Buster and to corporate greed. I couldn’t be prouder of how they came together as one and simply knocked it out of the park!”

“When organizing a group, one of the first things we gauge is the group’s enthusiasm and determination. When we started with this group at VISTAR, they were already acting like Teamsters.” Said Teamsters Local 853 Secretary-Treasurer Steve Beck, “They were banded together and determined to act as one unit from the first day. And it showed in their overwhelming vote to unionize. All they needed was a little direction and guidance; they already had the rest wrapped up. I’m impressed, proud, and excited to have this group join our 853 family.”  

Please join us in welcoming them!!!!

VISTAR Drivers Vote Overwhelmingly to Join Teamsters Local 853 Read More »

Suspected Faulty Computers Shortchange Teamster Commissions at the Coliseum in Oakland

Seven Teamsters working for The Mandate Company who run concessions at the Oakland Coliseum recently disputed their wage calculations. The source of the error seems to originate from Aramark equipment. Aramark contracts with The Mandate Company and provides hand-held concession computers for these members. These seven members determined that the end-of-shift sales figures had been incorrect on the Aramark machines, and cheated these members out of rightful commissions.

So, in conjunction with Teamsters Local 853 Business Agent John Arnolfo and Mandate workers and Stewards, they are approaching the company to try to make our members whole by securing the back pay. Should The Mandate Company choose to deny their claim, the Local can exercise the next step by filing a case through the California State Labor Commissioner.

Pictured here are those Concession Vendor Teamsters meeting with Union attorney Sarah Kabnar (bottom right) regarding outstanding wage claims.

Stay tuned and we will let you know the outcome or further developments.

Suspected Faulty Computers Shortchange Teamster Commissions at the Coliseum in Oakland Read More »

Genesis Logistics contract negotiations

Teamsters at Genesis Logistics are hard at work hammering out their new 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. These members keep us fueled up when we’re on the road.

Pictured left to right on the negotiating committee are Steward Pete Hall, Steward Miguel Muñoz, and Steward Trent Rivera. Thank you for your hard work and for keeping your members’ needs front and center.

Stay tuned as we report the results. Let’s all give a shout to these Teamsters; go get that good contract!!!

Genesis Logistics contract negotiations Read More »

Small battle, big win for 853 Members at DHL PAO, Sunnyvale

DHL Steward Darren and Business Agent James Long used a grievance along with a potential Unfair Labor Practice charge for bad faith bargaining to stop DHL Sunnyvale from enacting a semi-annual bid that the members did not agree to!  After a review and further back and forth between Local 853 and the company, DHL was required to follow a provision in the contract, the 20/60 rule, which then created three new bids.   

This was a great win for all the members working at DHL and another example of how a contract and Teamster unity protect workers on the job. Shout out to steward Darren and the rest of the team for making it happen!

💪💪💪 Pictured above is Darren removing the semi-annual bid from the board!

Small battle, big win for 853 Members at DHL PAO, Sunnyvale Read More »