Member Advocacy

Local 853 Saves Teamsters Jobs at Golf Courses in San Francisco

In a multi-month effort, Local 853, in coordination with the SF Building Trades Council, saved sixty jobs from privatization at San Francisco’s city golf courses.
Immediately after last year’s Mayoral election, rumors started circulating about the Rec & Parks Department’s plan to privatize golf in an effort to save money at the cost of sixty jobs. When the budget hit in February, it was in print that the department fully intended to do what had been rumored up to then.
Enter the Teamsters & the Building Trades: Local 853 contacted the Building Trades, and a plan was put together to lobby members of the budget committee. Multiple meetings were set up with the members of the committee and chair Connie Chan. They backed us up 100% and then backed our position in several hearings on the matter. Local 853 and the Trades also met with the Mayor’s Chief of Staff to press our case. At the end of the budget process, Supervisor Chan, with the support of her committee, was able to craft an agreement with the Mayor that saved 60 jobs at the golf courses for Teamsters, Plumbers, Operating Engineers, Electricians, Stationary Engineers, and Laborers.
This campaign goes to show that when you execute a plan with confidence, smarts, and passion, you can fight City Hall!

Rudy Gonzalez (S-T SF Building Trades), Kevin Reavey (Local 853 Chief Steward-Golf RET) & Mike Henneberry (Local 853 Recording Secretary) spearheaded the efforts to save union jobs at golf with the direct involvement of the affected members.

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MV Transportation lays groundwork for strong success in their transition to TransDev

MV transportation members met to discuss their upcoming transition to Transdev. This group is excited to move to a new company and contract, where they can change from the old power dynamic and take a much more active role at their new workplace.

This transition means these members are charting their own path and have a strong voice in the process to succeed.

Paratransit (short for “parallel transit”) is a transportation service designed to accommodate people who cannot use regular fixed-route public transit due to physical, cognitive, or other disabilities. It offers door-to-door or curb-to-curb rides using accessible vans or minibuses. Para-Transit work is simply amazing work done by amazing members. They work hard every day to ensure the most vulnerable members of society are taken care of.

Stay tuned as this unfolds. We encourage every member to speak up and take their place as a contributing member of this transition. Trust each other, trust your Union Representation, and trust your committee. And let’s move forward together.

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50 Years plus of experiece between two leaders inspires confidence to move aggressively forward

Meet Chief Stewards Tayde Rodriguez and Tony Montano at MV Transportation. Together, they have over 50 years of combined experience in the Paratransit industry.

Last month, we met with Transdev to negotiate a transition agreement as their current employer, MV Transportation, lost their bid with the Valley Transportation Authority(VTA).

What would have been an otherwise challenging time for less seasoned leaders, Tayde and Tony’s voices gave levity to the complex challenges that Paratransit Teamsters Local 853 members have been facing over the last few years. The years of dedication that Stewards like Tayde and Tony have put into rising above and helping out their fellow members is selfless work, and we want to recognize their efforts.

“Now our members are excited about the chance to have a fresh start at our San Jose location,” said Business Agent David Crawford. “The opportunity for leaders like Tayde and Tony to sit across the table with the company and chart their carefully thought-out strategy makes us all successful during challenging times. These stewards are an inspiring example of how experience and leadership help motivate all of our members to be invested, informed, and vocal.”

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Business Agent training focuses on involving more and more members to strengthen our Union

Teamsters Local 853 held a mandatory half-day training for all Business Agents. A shout out to IBT Strategic Campaign Coordinator and Teamster 853 Member, Nupur Modi-Parekh. Nupur took the agents through a step-by-step process on how to get more members involved with their union during both crucial times, like contract negotiations preparation, and in everyday addressing of member needs.

“Regardless of your experience level, everyone can learn more from additional training. We would be doing an injustice to the job if we weren’t constantly improving how we serve our members.” Said Secretary-Treasurer Steve Beck. “We will be holding more and more training sessions like this to continue to make us better.”

At the training, there was considerable focus on how to draw out and better involve all the members of our union. Every member who decides to get off the sidelines and go to a meeting, help out in their workplace, or learn more about the work we all do is a tremendous success in strengthening our union.

So get involved, go to a member meeting, get on our email list, and talk to your Business Agent or Steward. We need your strength.

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The final chapter closes on ULP charges against Premier Recycling

When an organized group wins a ruling of Unfair Labor Practices(ULP) as the members at Premier Recycling did, by federal law, the company must post and read aloud the below posting at every employment location and during every shift and leave posted for 60 days.

This is the procedure that was followed last week as the company read aloud and posted the below document with Teamsters 853 Business Agent, James Long, 853 Attorney, and NLRB compliance officer present during each shift change at 9 AM /930 AM /10 AM /1030 AM/430 PM.

This is the power of federal laws put in place decades ago to protect workers.

Congratulations to all of the members at Premier who endured three long years for justice. Your group is a model of determination, and on behalf of every Teamster 853 member, we salute your grit.

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What Does the Union Do For Me Anyway?

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

What Does the Union Do For Me Anyway? Read More »

Teamsters Local 853 secures 1.3 Million dollars in back pay for UNFI Drivers

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.

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Victory – California legislature passed SB399, giving workers and unions a big win! But there’s more to do.

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.

Victory – California legislature passed SB399, giving workers and unions a big win! But there’s more to do. 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!!!

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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.

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