Brian Fisher

Through grassroots political action and aggressive lobbying on Capitol Hill, State Houses, and City Halls across America, Teamsters have stopped some of the worst attacks on working people.

But Big Business is always aggressively pushing their agenda to increase profits at workers’ expense. They outspend working families on politics by more than 15-1. But you can help us fight back. Contributing to the “Drive”. “Drive” is the Teamsters’ political action committee that gives Teamsters the political muscle to work on national issues of improving job safety and providing affordable childcare and to stopping abuses by corporate health providers and insurance companies.

Can you take a stand for working families by contributing to DRIVE? Your contribution will support grassroots action by Teamster families to stand up to Big Business interests.

Three key focuses for Drive are:

• Keeping members and their families informed on the key issues that affect our future, including voter guides that show the records of our Senators and Representatives in Congress.
• Rallies, news conferences, advertisements, and phone banks to build support on issues of concern to working people.
• Voter registration and financial support for political candidates who will stand up for working families. DRIVE is non-partisan and independent of any political party.

So the next time we come out to your workplace to become a contributing member to “Drive” , say yes, contribute, and help us tip the scales in our favor.

Big shout out to the Right Away crew, who just ratified a 3-year contract extension. Congratulations!!!

Sisters and Brothers,

When Governor Newsom vetoed AB316, a bill that would have protected Union Jobs and put corporate greed in check, Teamsters do what they have always done. Continue the fight at a different angle. Because we only lose when we stop fighting. So we continue using our considerable voice for working women and men in California to stand up for what is right.

In that spirit, the next battle has been chosen at the San Francisco Headquarters of RoboTaxi Company, Cruise.

On Oct. 24, Cruise, a robotaxi company backed by GM, Honda, Microsoft and others, will release their 3rd quarter earnings and we want a big crowd outside to tell them and their shareholders to put PEOPLE OVER PROFITS! Our families and communities should not be used as lab rats for corporations to profit.

WHERE AND WHEN
9:00 am Tuesday, Oct. 24
333 Brannan St.
(Stanford Alley)
San Francisco, CA 94107

If you think you can make it, please sign up here so we can best plan for this rally.

Sisters and Brothers,

An informed and active electorate can get things done. That is why we are writing you today.

You may have heard the news that the freight company Yellow recently filed for bankruptcy, which put 22,000 Teamsters out of work and allowed Yellow to walk away from their responsibility and debt. Leaving Teamsters holding the bag for 5 Billion in financial sacrifices that were conceded by members to keep Yellow afloat since 2009.

But you, as an educated Teamster, can help right this wrong by taking one minute to fill out this form and send a pre-written letter to Senator Padilla asking him to consider the ramifications of these weak Bankruptcy laws and to support reform of our nation’s bankruptcy laws.

The reason corporations get away with this “free pass” bankruptcy is because not enough working citizens are aware that there is a better choice. We have to continually The reason corporations get away with this “free pass” bankruptcy is that not enough working citizens are aware that there is a better choice. We have to continually speak up in force as a significant voting block in California.

So we are asking you to take 1 minute out of your day to send this form letter to our Senior California Senator Alex Padilla to help right this bankruptcy wrong. The more well-educated we are on these topics, the more we can help control and prevent this type of injustice from happening in the future.

No Teamster working for a corporation is safe, while these bankruptcy laws remain the way they are. The next bankruptcy could be your employer, so please help and act now.

In Union,

Steve Beck, Steven Lua, and the entire Teamsters 853 Staff

If you have ever purchased a new car and asked for something to be added to the car like a tow hitch or roof rack, where do you think these additions happen? Not at the factory. Large car companies ship cars with basic model builds, and when a dealership receives an order for a car modification, the Teamsters at Amports are the folks who do this work before the car arrives at the dealership. They are the gatekeepers between ordering the car and delivering it to the dealership with the requested modifications.

So the next time you or someone you know buys a new car in the Bay Area, just know that before that car gets delivered, it’s likely a skilled Teamster made sure that the car is properly equipped and ready to deliver.

So now these skilled workers at Amports are in the middle of negotiating their next contract. Pictured are members at the VW/Audi compound who are banding together to ensure they get a fair and good contract because they ensure Amports customers get a good product on the other end.

In August, Teamster members working at Bimbo turned down the company’s Last Best and Final offer during contract negotiations. They then overwhelmingly voted to authorize us to strike if the need arises. Some of the issues still not adequately addressed were the two-tier workforce as well as wage increases that can keep up with the rising costs of living in the Bay Area.

This is a master contract that includes 11 other locals covering Northern California and parts of Southern California.

“ I am so proud of these members for standing up for their rights; these men and women are not trying to be greedy; they just want a fair contract,” said Stacy Murphy, Teamsters 853 Business Representative.