Sisters and Brothers,
If you have an eligible child or dependent, take advantage of this opportunity to lessen the financial burden of higher education. Details on the application can be found here: https://www.jrhmsf.org/
[application] – James R. Hoffa Memorial Scholarship for 2025 Read More »
Sisters and Brothers,
Every year, the Teamsters offer several scholarship opportunities for children and dependents of Teamster members who are in good standing. Last year, Teamster 853 members were awarded several scholarships. It’s a very good opportunity to reduce the financial burden of sending our children to higher education.
So, this holiday, we would like to remind you that if you have an eligible child or dependent, take the time to sit down with them and apply.
Here are two scholarships that will be awarded next year.
Yellow Freight Teamsters Members, here is the latest update published by the IBT regarding the bankruptcy.
Yellow Freight Bankruptcy Update – November 25th, 2024 Read More »
Sometimes you just get it right. A non-for-profit whose sole purpose is to provide for underprivileged communities. Teamster workers who put in the time and work to enable that company to succeed and thrive in its mission.
It wasn’t exactly that way at the beginning of negotiations for this contract; however, after many, many, many hours of hard work that the Teamster 853 members and negotiating committee put in with Second Harvest management, a relationship developed. What emerged was a positive culture of working with each other instead of against each other.
The result was a great contract for our members and a motivated workforce for the company.
This contract was inked with a unanimous 100% approval of the members, securing a very substantial wage increase, Teamsters Benefits Trust medical, signing bonuses, seniority language for all start times, added holiday pay, added safety language and driver protections, and added strike language.
“This is what it looks like when everyone on both sides is doing the right thing for the right reason.” Said Business Agent, James Long. “It was a process of coming together for the benefit of all”. “Big shout out to the members on the negotiating committee, Bill Hockaday, Rudy Muniz, and Daniel Jacques. They were spot on from start to finish”.
Congratulations to all the 853 members at Second Harvest.
Congratulations to the Teamster 853 Members at Kelly Spicers, who ratified a new three-year contract. The contract included the best increases in wages ever received over the three years, a good increase in pension, improved sick leave, “shift premium” and “specialty skills” increases, and maintenance in health benefits. Pictured are Stewards Oscar Perlia and Francisco Munoz, who were part of the negotiating committee that secured this deal.
“Our stewards and members did a great job bringing the most important concerns and needs to the table,” Said Business Agent Lyle Funderburk, “and getting such a strong vote meant that those needs were met.”
Yellow Freight Teamsters Members, here is the latest update published by the IBT regarding the bankruptcy. Please download the original document to review here.
Yellow Freight Bankruptcy Update – October 29th, 2024 Read More »
After three years of battling for our members at UNFI, Teamsters Local 853 secured an incredible win for its members. Due to a contract violation over wage rates, Business Agent and Vice President Ray Torres enforced the merits of the agreement, arguing that significant back pay was due to these members. The company did not agree that they had violated the collective bargaining agreement, and so began a three-year grievance that ultimately resulted in arbitration.
Three long years later, after considerable back and forth, argument, and counter-argument, a decision that ruled in the favor of the Union was reached. The drivers at UNFI were victorious and secured a whopping 1.3 Million dollars in back pay.
This is a great example of why Unions are so important. Without the protection of a contract and the Local Union watching out for its members, that 1.3 Million dollars would never have been given to the workers who are entitled to it.
“It’s not about the size of the win.” Said Teamsters Local 853 President Steven Lua; “all wins, big and small, are important because they give justice to those who are impacted. Our members work hard for their money, and it’s our job to hold the company accountable to the agreements that we bargain.”
Congratulations to the UNFI workers who waited patiently and trusted their Union Leaders to get them what they deserve. Teamsters Local 853 will always have your backs and couldn’t be happier to get this win.
Teamsters Local 853 secures 1.3 Million dollars in back pay for UNFI Drivers Read More »
This past weekend, Teamsters Local 853 celebrated the heart and the power of our Union, you, our members.
On Saturday and Sunday, we united to celebrate and culminate a year of success. We have achieved the strongest and most lucrative contracts in many years, largely because of the hard work that all of you, our members, have done to lead, to stick together, and to put in the time.
As Teamsters Local 853 officials, business representatives, and staff, we hold ourselves responsible for maintaining the respect and dignity that has been fought for by our founding sisters and brothers and those who will continue to push the envelope in the future. We’re focused on educating our members so they can defend themselves when push comes to shove and, most importantly, to enforce the merits of our collective bargaining agreements. Every effort we make as an organization is done to provide you with a better future because you deserve the best we have to offer. The dignity and respect that strong union representation brings.
So this past weekend was a great showing of what our local is made of. Our members came out from dozens of different industries and had an opportunity to see that their sisters and brothers were all filled with joy and to partake in our membership appreciation celebration.
From hot dogs, music, and prizes to face painting and a little Elvis Presley sighting, we enjoyed celebrating YOU. As we close the chapter this year and get ready for 2025, we want to thank all Teamsters 853 members for always showing the love, support, and positive energy that makes Teamsters Local 853 a great Union. We are eager to continue the good fight, and we look forward to doing it alongside our sisters and brothers.
Teamsters Local 853
Pictured here are the hard-working Teamsters members of Bimbo Bakeries In Sunnyvale. While this building may not have the numbers or get all of the glory that larger buildings get, they provide an essential service to the community. It is often forgotten that during the pandemic, these dedicated members were out on the front lines, making sure that the shelves in your local supermarket were fully stocked.
At a time when uncertainty and unrest were at an all-time high, these Teamsters members stayed vigilant and focused on their jobs, all while knowing that their health and safety were at risk. So next time you are out and about, and you happen to see one of these drivers, thank them and remember that they are an important part of the food provided to this country.
California Worker Freedom from Employer Intimidation Act (Act) is to take effect on January 1, 2025, and Teamsters Local 853 was there in Sacramento to help make it happen.
The new California law prohibits mandatory employer meetings regarding labor organizations, which are known as captive audience meetings. Specifically, an employer is prohibited from subjecting or threatening to subject an employee to discharge, discrimination, or retaliation because the employee declines to attend an employer-sponsored meeting or refuses to listen to any communications with the employer or its agents where the purpose is to communicate the employer’s opinion about religious or political matters which includes labor organizations. An employer who violates this section shall be subject to a civil penalty of five hundred dollars ($500) per employee for each violation.
“This law prevents employers from punishing their employees for not attending forced anti-union meetings,” said Teamsters Local 853 President Steven Lua, “It’s legislation that will really help combat worker intimidation during union drives, and with the number of organizing drives on our plate, it is a welcome weapon to our arsenal.” “but there are still ways that companies can retaliate, so the end goal is legislation that makes anti-union meetings completely illegal,” added Steven. “Our job is not done here until we see that happen in future legislation.”
Teamsters Local 853 would like to recognize the two State Senators who introduced this legislation. In this election season, it’s important to recognize and vote for these pro-union, pro-worker politicians in California.
Bill introduced by State Senator Aisha Wahab
Bill co-authored by California State Senator Maria Elena Durazo
Pictured is Teamsters 853 Business Agent James Long, who, along with peers from Teamsters Local 2785, Teamsters Local 150, and Teamsters Local 350, spent their day walking the halls of the State Capitol building talking to politicians about the importance of this bill.
