Local 853 members at Douglas Parking in Jack London Square Oakland unanimously ratified a new three year agreement. “The contract includes solid wage increases, improvements in health and welfare, additional holidays, widening of the bargaining unit, and enhanced retirement security,” said Business Agent and Recording Secretary Mike Henneberry. “Douglas JLS Local 853 members get the job done for the public and each other!”
When UPS management tried to deny his reinstatement, Nathanael Naranjo, a UPS Driver at Sunnyvale, did something about it.
Nathanael was taken off the job because of some educational compliance issues he was required to complete. And when he finished those requirements, he was eager to get back to work. But when he came back, UPS management said no. Their response was weak and vague as to the reason why, so Nathanael did what all members should do when they need help; he talked to his steward and his Business Agent.
In the three weeks that followed, Business Agent David Crawford coordinated a full-court press with Nathanael and the foothill center stewards against UPS management to get Nathanael reinstated. At every turn, the group was met with unreasonable and unrelenting resistance, but in the end, UPS management was forced to capitulate and put Nathanael back to work.
“What UPS management tried to do to Nathanael was wrong, so we got in there, wore them down, and forced them to make it right.” Said business agent David Crawford. “Nathanael and the stewards from the foothill center should be commended because they showed fierce Teamster determination and unity and never gave up. And it really paid off. I am really happy to see Nathanael back to work at the job he and his family count on.”
We cannot do it alone. Cities and towns that support unions aren’t simply willed into being. Working and living in a city that supports unions is the result of vocal members of the community and body politic.
We, as Teamsters 853 members, have to be aware of the politics in our cities and towns and then actively vote for elected officials that support union workplaces.
In the case of San Jose, Teamsters Local 853 would like to acknowledge three city council members who have been recent standouts for supporting our members’ causes. They have worked to bring and maintain fair and equitable employment to the people who work and live in San Jose.
San Jose City Councilmember Peter Ortiz, who represents District 5
San Jose City Councilmember Omar Torres, who represents District 3
San Jose City Councilmember Domingo Candelas, who represents District 8
All three of these council members showed up at our Strike at Premier Recycle and also penned a letter to the owners of Premier Recycle expressing support for the workers there. Premier Recycle has benefited from many San Jose city contracts, so the influence on their business from these council members is considerable.
Thank you, Councilmembers Ortiz, Torres, and Candelas, for your support. You have our backs, and come election time; San Jose Teamsters will have yours!!
Below is the letter these council members wrote to the owners of Premier Recycle.
The NorCal Committee met this week in Oakland California and concluded the seventh week of supplemental negotiations. The 15 locals covering a geographic area from as far south as Bakersfield California, up north to Eureka California, and spanning east to west from the Bay Area to the far reaches of Northern Nevada. We collectively represent over 15,000 strong UPS Teamsters; Teamsters who have reached out in droves this week with words of encouragement asking this body to keep fighting and standing strong for their member driven proposals and to maintain the amazing protections that they already have.
The Company continues to bring forth unacceptable proposals and has made it clear to this committee that they are not interested in moving the process forward or resolving the issues that they have created over the last 5 years. These unresolved issues continue to be the grievance procedure, pay issues, the protection of hours, and holidays. The Company holds hostage proposals that we can fundamentally agree to, by packaging them with proposals that are detrimental to our members. We have asked to bargain each proposal individually and are met with the words of, “the package is the package”.
The Company has made it clear that they will not move forward unless we tentatively agree to their “package deal”. General President Sean O’Brien and General Secretary-Treasurer Fred Zuckerman have made it clear that while National Negotiations has officially begun, if the Company cannot come to find common ground and finish our Supplemental Negotiations they can and will shut down talks with the Company in D.C. We appreciate the continued support from the General President and General Secretary Treasurer and will keep working hard to get across the finish line for our members in Northern California and Nevada.
The Committee is scheduled to continue negotiations with the Company Monday, May 15th, in Oakland, California.
Can you spare time to show up and support your fellow members on their strike?
After voting to unionize a year ago, Premier Recycle drivers’ negotiations have been met with stall tactics, their safety and grievance concerns remain ignored, there is unwarranted surveillance, and a general environment of hostility to these drivers. So today, they start their strike.
And we are asking you to help. Show up and support their picket line. If you are in the South Bay today, stop by and give them your time and your support.
Watch this space for updates.
Where and When:
Premier Recycle
348 Phelan Ave.
San Jose, CA
Starts May 10th
Anytime after 3am
Our monthly member meeting for May is this Thursday, May 11th. Show up and participate in the events and decisions that affect your Union and workplace.
Time: Doors Close at 7 PM(usually 30-60 min. long)
Where: Teamsters Local Union 853, 7750 Pardee Lane
Oakland, California 94621 - Phone: 510-895-8853
Greif in Morgan Hill ratified a very strong new three-year contract with the best pay raises they have ever seen.
“We pushed negotiations to the limit; the committee stood strong with a wealth of knowledge.” Said Vice-President Ray Torres. “These members received the highest wage increase they’ve ever seen, maintained their Health & Wellfare, and new bid language that our members will all benefit from.”
These members did a great job sticking together and negotiating smartly and aggressively—way to go Teamsters 853 members at Greif.
“Performance Food Group didn’t pull any punches against their drivers. They hired union busters, intimidated and threatened drivers, and terminated employees.” Said Ray Torres, Vice President of Teamsters Local 853. “But in the end, these drivers understood the value of sticking together and successfully voted to unionize. We now look forward to getting these drivers the contract they deserve.”
Teamsters Local 853 has strategically focused on Performance Food Groups as they are the second largest food delivery company in the United States, only behind Sysco.
The leadership of Teamsters Local 853 has been closely following and supporting these efforts along with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. There are many more PFG workers who could benefit greatly from unionizing, and Teamsters Local 853 is on the march to secure those workers’ jobs.
“PFG workers were determined to win representation with Local 853. They were united from the start and only grew stronger as their campaign progressed,” said Tom Erickson, Director of the Teamsters Warehouse Division. “PFG workers are part of a growing movement for workers in the warehouse industry. They stood strong and fought back against this anti-union employer and won big. This victory shows that when workers stick together and take a stand, there’s nothing they can’t accomplish.”
Congratulations to all of the PFG drivers who voted to take control of their future.
The Teamsters National Freight Industry Negotiating Committee met last week with ABF Freight to continue negotiations for a new national agreement to succeed the ABF NMFA which expires on June 30. Progress was made on a number of supplements. At the national table, the parties discussed significant issues including the union’s objection to any inward facing cameras and in-cab monitoring and the union’s objection to the use of autonomous equipment. The union also presented its initial economic proposals to the company. The parties are meeting again this week in Kansas City to continue negotiations.
