Yellow Freight Bankruptcy Update
Yellow Freight Teamsters Members, here is the latest update published by the IBT regarding the bankruptcy. Please download the original document to review.
Yellow Freight Bankruptcy Update Read More »
Teamsters Lead the Way in City & County of San Francisco Negotiations
On January 17, well over 2,000 union members representing 22 unions gathered out front of SF city hall to demand a just & equitable contract. Teamsters Local 853 was right up front, leading the way shoulder to shoulder with Teamsters Local 856.
Local 853 vac trucks revved up the crowd and got the rally going. They were joined by members of the Teamster horseman and Teamsters from across the city. All union contracts (except for police & fire) expire in June. Local 853 is negotiating in conjunction with the SF Building Trades Council.
Teamsters Lead the Way in City & County of San Francisco Negotiations Read More »
Teamster 853 Members Operate The Last Salt Harvesting and Packaging Company in the United States: Cargill Salt: Take A look inside at the Members that Keep this company running smoothly.
Some info about the sea salt that comes from the last American sea salt manufacturer right in our Bay Area backyard in Newark, CA.
A 25-man Teamster 853 crew from Cargill Salt – solar plant keeps the whole operation going. They harvest the salt from the ponds you see when you cross the San Mateo and Dumbarten bridges.
They harvest over 800,000 tons of sea salt. It takes five years to make the salt, from filling the ponds to bagging the product. And members from Teamsters 853 are the ones who do the work to make this product. From table salt to high-end specialty salts to the salts used to keep our icy mountain highways and streets thawed.
Thanks to Steward John for his leadership and for keeping management in line.
….And swing steward Robert Tapia
Big shout out to the whole Teamster 853 crew at Cargill Salt!!!
Photos and Story by James Long
Teamsters 853 Meets with District 20 Assemblymember Liz Ortega to discuss Labor-related priorities for the Hayward, San Leandro, Dublin, Union City, and Pleasanton Working Communities.
On Saturday, Teamster 853 Staff met with Assemblymember Liz Ortega to discuss Labor-related priorities for the Hayward, San Leandro, Dublin, Union City, and Pleasanton Working Communities. Pictured with assemblywoman Ortega are Trustee Joel Bellison, Recording Secretary and Business Agent Mike Henneberry, and Business Agent Cesar Martinez.
Liz Ortega is a longtime labor leader and activist from an immigrant family who has dedicated her career to fighting for the working-class people of Alameda County.
As a Teamster 853 member, please remember that labor-aligned politicians need your help at the ballot box. We elect them so that they can help create legislation that protects us.
US Foods, Welcome to Teamsters Local 853
US Foods Brothers,
I am Steve Beck, the secretary-treasurer and principal officer at Teamsters Local 853. I am responsible for leading Teamsters Local 853.
Congratulations on the vote you took to become a Teamster. I welcome you into our family. Today is a great day for you and your coworker’s future at US Foods.
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 Coremark, UNFI, Sysco Foods, and Performance Food Groups are all Teamsters, 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 you can 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:
Follow our feeds on Facebook and Instagram, where you will regularly see members like you all over the Bay Area and the work they do.
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.
In Union,
Steve Beck
Secretary-Treasurer and Principal Officer of Teamsters Local 853
US Foods, Welcome to Teamsters Local 853 Read More »
Gillig Members Fill the House to Capacity and Ratify Historic Contract.
Yesterday, Gillig bussing members showed up in force and overwhelmingly voted to ratify their new contract. It was the highest percentage ever for a ratification vote for this group at 97%. The Gillig membership made it clear that they stand together with one another and Local 853’s leadership moving into the future.
“This contract was a model for how I feel great contracts are completed.” Said Secretary-Treasurer Steve Beck. “Our members were heavily involved and wanted to work through it. We went line for line on this contract, so nothing was left to chance.”
“I also want to recognize that without the full participation of our steward committee, we would not have had the level of success we achieved. They were critical in many aspects of this contract. I want to express my respect and high regard for these members because they did it smartly and together, the Union way!”
Gillig Members Fill the House to Capacity and Ratify Historic Contract. Read More »
It’s Official! US Foods Drivers Vote “Union Yes” and Join Teamsters Local 853
Unions are in an endless battle, fighting corporations to secure fair wages and benefits for the workers who make those companies successful. Corporations are experts at keeping every penny of profits, and unions have to go to the mat every time to get workers their fair share of their contribution.
Today, Teamsters Local 853 would like to congratulate the US Foods drivers who were able to see beyond the corporations’ tactics as they voted today to join our Union. Without their trust in us and each other, this would not have been possible.
“These drivers were receiving confusing and misleading information from their employer,” Said Teamsters Vice-president Ray Torres, “and they have been seeing their peer drivers at other companies receive better pay and benefits, and so they stuck together today and voted for a better future! I’m proud of these members.”
“We enthusiastically welcome these members to our Teamster family,” said Steve Beck, Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 853. “Now we can start the process of getting these members a great contract.”
THANK YOU, TEAMSTERS, NATIONALLY
Teamsters Local 853 would also like to recognize and thank Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien, General Secretary-Treasurer Fred Zuckerman, Vice-President Tom Erickson, and IBT Organizing Director Chris Rosell, all of whom supported our organizing efforts.
THANK YOU TEAMSTERS LOCAL 104
Most importantly, we want to recognize the efforts of Teamsters Local 104 in Phoenix, Arizona, who sent these drivers endless support videos from their US Foods members and stewards and Teamsters Local 104 Staff. Without your critical support, we may not have been successful. We recognize the extra effort you made without any tangible benefit to yourselves.
“This was truly a community effort by our Sisters and Brothers from many places in the country,” said Steve Beck. “That’s what being a Teamster is all about.”
It’s Official! US Foods Drivers Vote “Union Yes” and Join Teamsters Local 853 Read More »
Thank you to each and every Teamster 853 member who came out, supported, or participated in some way – You made 2023 a huge success.
Turnout of sheer numbers are where we get our power. That is why we have good contracts, pay, and benefits. Because we stick together and always operate as one large group. So even though you may not be working on your specific contract, participation in all Teamster activities makes some member a recipient of a better life in our Teamster universe.
In January, our newly elected Executive Board took over Teamsters Local 853. We ran on the promise to involve members more in their Union and to provide more transparency about what events impact all of us. Our goal was to raise up all Teamsters 853 members by reaching out to our members and asking them to take their Union back. So we invested in our web, social media, and communications platforms to reach out more easily to you, our members. We made all communications available in Spanish to better communicate with the 30% of our members who prefer Spanish. We requested that your Business Agents become more involved with integrating communications of activities and events during their visits to your workplace.
And what we saw this year was nothing short of phenomenal. When we reached out to you, you reached back out to us and each other and participated like never before. You turned up, and you showed up. We had seven(7) times as many members show up for monthly meetings compared to the average last year. We had hundreds and hundreds of members turn out for pickets and rallies for every Teamster cause around the Bay Area. And some of those causes were not just local but also to the benefit of Teamsters nationwide. You donated to the Amazon strikers so that they could continue their work picketing nationally, and many members signed up and contributed to Drive, the Teamster’s Political Action Committee. You showed up at our member appreciation day, helped with the UPS contract practice strike, and participated in Boycotts and many other activities.
In short, you are taking back Teamsters Local 853 and are making us stronger and more successful. We applaud you and challenge you to participate even more in 2024. Let’s do this together and knock it out of the park in 2024. For all the Teamster 853 members who came before us and for you and future members to come. 💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽 Teamsters Strong!!!
In Union,
Steve Beck, Steven Lua, and the entire Staff and Teamsters Local 853
Below are just a few of the many events and programs that made us stronger this year.
It’s Official: Oakland Zoo Keepers are Teamsters!
This week, votes were tallied to ratify the first-ever Oakland Zoo Zoo Keepers agreement between Local 853 & the zoo. The results were overwhelming; as a matter of fact, the vote was nearly unanimous to accept the agreement!
The union looks forward to representing our new members at Oakland’s premier institution. Local 853 would like to recognize the efforts of the leadership committee, particularly the negotiating committee (Stacie Picone, Madison Brandon, and Ashley Xiong), and the unflagging determination and support of the members.
This collective bargaining agreement is a great Christmas present for all involved, delivered Teamster style!
It’s Official: Oakland Zoo Keepers are Teamsters! Read More »
uS Foods Survey
Vote Deadline is Coming Up – Have you Voted?
Please take this anonymous survey so we can stay on top of this vote!
