Brian Fisher

Teamster 853 union officials support Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien and Congressman Adam Schiff and the Recent NLRB ruling for Amazon workers

Amazon. The company has grown so fast that no single organization or government agency has been able to keep up. Among the large transport and delivery companies like UPS, FedEx, and DHL, Amazon is widely known for providing their drivers and warehouse workers with wages and benefits below industry standards.

Consequently, all eyes are on the Teamsters organization nationally as they prosecute the case to organize this industry juggernaut.

One of the major ways Amazon has been able to get around paying their employees prevailing wages and benefits is by hiding behind subcontractors. Amazon contracts with smaller delivery companies established specifically to deliver for Amazon, but since these smaller companies are considered contract workers, Amazon is not required to consider them direct employees, and the job protections that come with this arrangement.

Recent NLRB Bombshell Ruling in Favor of Amazon Workers

President Biden’s appointed NLRB board has recently ruled that Amazon’s sleight-of-hand workaround is no longer legally binding to hide behind. In a recent ruling, the NLRB(National Labor Relations Board) has said that regardless of the middleman contract worker status, Unions can now treat these subcontractors as direct employees of Amazon and, therefore, can pursue organizing from a much stronger position for these workers.

So when the Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien and Congressman Adam Schiff did a joint media event to mark this new ruling, Teamsters Local 853 answered the call.
Teamsters 853 President Steven Lua, Vice President Ray Torres, and Recording Secretary Mike Henneberry joined them to show our support for these Amazon workers and this larger national strategy.

The importance of bringing equity and fairness to such a large part of the warehouse and delivery community in the United States cannot be understated. These workers deserve better, and the Teamsters are fighting to bring it to them.

Stay tuned to this space as we bring you more updates on the progress of this very significant initiative and how it will impact the Amazon workers right here in the Bay Area.

Teamster 853 union officials support Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien and Congressman Adam Schiff and the Recent NLRB ruling for Amazon workers Read More »

Our Teamster Family all over the Bay Area and Beyond

To our Bay Area Teamster Family. Teamsters Local 853 has members at over 300 companies who work all over the Bay Area. These members hustle like you do, put in the work like you do and are proud teamsters working toward a better future for all working people like you do. Take a moment to recognize each other. Whether you know each other or not, we are all working towards the same goal. Bringing fairness, equity, and dignity to the vital work we do for our communities.

And to all the Teamsters around the country who are part of our extended family. If you ever visit Northern California, know that you are welcome and have family here!! Let’s go, Teamsters!!!

Our Teamster Family all over the Bay Area and Beyond Read More »

Labor Day – The battle between the rich and the working class – How FDR(Franklin D. Roosevelt) Changed everything for Unions in 1937

In the 1920s and 30s, union membership had been decreasing significantly for decades. The gap between the rich and middle class was at a high point in history for that time period. It was a time when the rich were able to exploit workers almost unrestricted. Federal laws protecting workers’ rights to Unionize were weak, with little real ability to force companies to follow labor protection laws.

Enter FDR

Historically, Franklin D. Roosevelt was widely considered the second-best president of the United States, only behind Abraham Lincoln. He shepherded our country through WW2 and the Great Depression and, as part of his New Deal agenda, passed some of the most significant laws in history to protect and lift up the middle class.

These laws gave Americans the rights and the tools to even out the wealth gap and provide more fairness between workers and companies.

As part of this “New Deal,” FDR signed into law the single most impactful pro-union legislation in history. It was called the Wagner Act, which gave real teeth to enforce workers’ rights and push back at corporate exploitation.

As a result, unions experienced a massive increase in membership in the late 30s, 40s, and 50s, and they were arguably responsible for building the middle class in America.

Labor Day 2024

So today, on Labor Day 2024, Teamsters Local 853 would like to commemorate FDR for what he did for working women and men in America. And for fundamentally giving Teamsters and every other Union the rights and protections to thrive.

But, more is needed at this point in history.

It’s easy to get nostalgic about a time eight decades ago as a great era for Unions, but we would be remiss in pointing out that corporate exploitation of workers has been increasing since the 1960s, and Union membership has been declining since then as a result. But there is hope. Over the past three years, we have lived in a resurgence of union support, largely due to our current presidential administration. President Biden is widely known and accepted as the most pro-Union president since Franklin Delano Roosevelt. So we are privileged to currently live in an era where we are beginning to reverse many decades of worker exploitation. You probably see it in all the record contracts of the past three years. We hope that eighty years from now, unions will look back fondly and speak of the two great presidents for Labor. One of which presided in our time.

Teamster 853 Sisters and Brothers, Enjoy your weekend and take pride in the work you do and the point in history we, as Union members, occupy. Most of all, join us in respecting all those who came before us, giving us the wages and job protection that help keep the goals of a strong middle class alive.

Teamsters Strong, Teamsters Proud

Labor Day – The battle between the rich and the working class – How FDR(Franklin D. Roosevelt) Changed everything for Unions in 1937 Read More »

Celebrating our Teamster Children – Second scholarship awarded to Claire Porter

This summer, three Teamster 853 children were lucky enough to be the recipients of scholarships funded by our local. One of these students is Claire Porter.

Claire is the stepdaughter of RNDC employee and Teamster member Kathryn Ingram. Claire is in her last year at CSU Fresno studying kinesiology. Claire wrote an essay on the importance of Unions in the United States. She expressed her belief in unions and her first-hand experience witnessing the benefits that unions have brought to healthcare workers.

She also has multiple family members who enjoy the retirement benefits of their union work, and she expressed her admiration for her stepmom, who, while working in a male-dominated industry, is able to get equal pay as a woman due to the Teamster contract.

You can read her entire essay here:

Download Claire’s Essay

On behalf of all the Teamsters at Local 853, we are proud to support the children of our members and give them funds to further their education as they gain the tools and knowledge to be successful in their adult careers.

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Golden Brands in San Jose ratifies new four-year contract at overwhelming 98% approval!

This week Golden Brands in San Jose enjoyed the fruits of their labor. They prepared well, participated greatly throughout the entire proposal process, and stuck together. And the end result is a whopping 98% approval vote for this new four-year contract.

“The stewards, negotiating committee, and all of the Golden Brands members who put their effort into this negotiation deserve the credit for a very well-run effort,” Said Vice-President Ray Torres, “this is how we win, be smart, prepare, and stick together.”

Golden Brands in San Jose ratifies new four-year contract at overwhelming 98% approval! Read More »

Not so fast, Tony’s Fine Foods, we will take our jobs back with full back pay and benefits

Aurelio Mendoza and Ivan Gonzalez are Tony’s Fine Foods stewards who were instrumental in moving the organizing drive forward for their group. So when this group voted UNION YES, what did the company do? They tried to terminate the employment of Aurelio and Ivan on some trumped-up charges. How surprising.

Under the law, this is called retaliation, and it is illegal in the United States.

So despite the company’s best efforts to intimidate these members, we are happy to announce that, yes, the law is on our side. And with the help of Teamsters Local 853 under the guidance of Vice President Ray Torres, Aurelio and Ivan are both back to work with full back pay and back benefits.

And as a general rule, if you are an employer and illegally terminate key union members who also sit on the contract negotiating committee, you have just made extremely motivated enemies of the company. And they are going to bring that energy to the negotiating table and the company will pay the price for such an abuse of power.

Not so fast, Tony’s Fine Foods, we will take our jobs back with full back pay and benefits Read More »

Former 853 member, Carlos Reyes, sends us a message from SOCAL: 853 at heart and always sporting my 853 gear

Former 853 member Carlos Reyes from Cresco Labs is now in Southern California after Cresco Labs shut its doors. He sent us a message this morning from SOCAL as he supports Teamsters Local 952 Amazon Picket, saying, “I’m always 853 at heart and always sporting my 853 gear”.

Carlos recently helped organize his company, which delivers for DHL in southern California. A big shoutout to him for being a true Teamster, dedicated to improving the lives of working people up and down the state!

Former 853 member, Carlos Reyes, sends us a message from SOCAL: 853 at heart and always sporting my 853 gear Read More »

Niko Glafkides was awarded one of Three 853 Scholarships this Summer

“This is one happy kiddo.  Please let everyone know how thankful our family is for the scholarship.” wrote Niko’s mom, Stacie.

Niko Glafkides took home a $500 scholarship from Teamsters Local 853 for his first year attending Boise State. Niko, the son of Gillig employee Dennis Glafkides, wrote a paper on the importance of Labor Unions. Niko has a very unique and real-world perspective on the importance of Unions, as he is the son, grandson, and great-grandson of Union members. Yes, three previous generations, all Union members.

“Scholarships are a great opportunity for the local to celebrate and support our members’ children’s future. This year, Teamsters Local 853 decided to give out three scholarships to further these students’ education,”  said Teamster President Steven Lua. “It’s a high point in our summer.”

So join us in congratulating Niko and wishing him the best of luck in his freshman year.

Niko Glafkides was awarded one of Three 853 Scholarships this Summer Read More »

Vern Gonsalves Retires After Long Local 853 Career & He’ll Still Serve

July 31, 1978 that’s when Vern Gonsalve’s odyssey with Local 853 began. Originally employed by Wesco in San Leandro Vern subsequently worked out of the union hall at the Safeway spice plant, Allied Sysco and Macy’s. Then he hit a home run and got hired on under Local 853’s jurisdiction at Gillig in Hayward. He’s been there ever since, up to his retirement in July. 

Throughout the changes he’s experienced since that July in 1978, kids, grandkids, advances in technology, a relocation of the Gillig plant to Livermore one constant that was always there was Local 853. And that’s why, in retirement, he’s not going away. “Whenever the union needs me, picket lines, rallies, bbq’s whatever the need is I’ll be there. We have achieved a lot together over the years and we have to fight to maintain what we’ve won.”

Good luck in retirement, Vern; we know we’ll see you around!

Pictured at the Gillig plant in Livermore attending Vern’s retirement celebration: Eric Vancil steward, Robert Terry steward, new retiree Vern Gonsalves, Recording Secretary Mike Henneberry, Lupe Pinedo steward and Lyle Funderburk, steward.

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Eduardo Garcia Gomez – Shop Steward for Bimbo, Concord Center

Sisters and Brothers,

Pictured here is Eduardo Garcia Gomez, Shop Steward at Bimbo, Concord Center.

Eddie is also on the negotiating committee for the import/express contract fight that we are currently engaged in. All the stewards on the committee, like Eddie, provide critical insight into the inner workings of their particular industry. Without their input, we would not be able to properly engage and support the membership.

Hats off to all the stewards here at Bimbo; they knock it out day after day, representing the rank and file, and are dedicated to ensuring that all the Bimbo Members get a strong contract.

Eduardo Garcia Gomez – Shop Steward for Bimbo, Concord Center Read More »