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.
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
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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
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.
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 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.
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
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:
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.
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”.
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 our newest members, who just today voted to join our ranks.
