Member Info

Steve Beck, Teamsters 853 Pricipal officer addressed Teamsters from across the country about the challenges facing the liquor industry

During the Unity Conference, Steve Beck, Principal Officer of Local 853 and IBT representative, addressed Teamsters from across the country about the challenges facing the liquor industry. Southern Glazers, RNDC, and Breakthru are currently dealing with issues stemming from Reyes Beer Company, which has taken several liquor brands away from union companies.

Steve Beck emphasized that the loss of major brands from a prominent union company to a non-union company poses an existential threat to our members nationwide. He has issued a call to action to all Union Locals, encouraging them to unite in response to this challenge.

With the backing from Jeff Padellaro (Director, BBSD) and the IBT, we plan to organize Reyes at every level.

Steve Beck, Teamsters 853 Pricipal officer addressed Teamsters from across the country about the challenges facing the liquor industry Read More »

WORK CHANGE: WeDriveU-Applied Materials to ABM

Frequently Asked Questions:

Why is this happening:

ABM has been awarded the new contract to provide service to Applied Materials. They have already had a meet-and-greet at Applied Materials campus with many of you. This change is not a reflection of the quality of service, this is about cost. This is not a reflection on you as the providers of the service.

The language of the contract allows you to follow your work under circumstances like this. It protects your seniority when the client changes the provider of the service. These changes are no fault of your own. You have no control of the situation. You would need to start over every time and hope that they hire you. You do not need to start over every time this happens.

When is our last day of Service:

WeDriveU notified all Applied Materials Drivers their last day of providing service at Applied Materials will be April 30. WeDriveu will lay off all drivers who do not remain with the company.

ABM begins service on May 1, 2025.

Drivers Remaining at WeDriveU:

Those drivers that remain at WeDriveU are selected by Yard Seniority, starting with the most senior driver. There are approximately 5-6 positions available at WeDriveU.

Following Work to ABM:

Therefore, those that are not in the seniority group to stay at WeDriveU will need to follow work to ABM to remain employed and to preserve your seniority on account. In addition, preserve your recall rights to return to WeDriveU based on your Yard Seniority.

ABM will coordinate the onboarding process. You will need to apply with ABM to maintain your seniority on the account.

If you decline to follow your work, your seniority will be broken. You no longer have recall rights to return to WeDriveU. You must follow work to retain recall.

What are my Wages and Benefits:

You will continue to be covered under the same terms as the Master Shuttle Agreement. Your wages, benefits, vacation accrual, 401k contributions and sick time will be the same.

Teamster Local 665:

ABM employees are represented by Teamsters Local 665 in many locations. The Local has a long history of representing workers at this company. You will need to complete a Membership Application for Local 665. Florencio “Flo” Sinogui is the Business Agent for the driver of Applied Materials. He can be reached at 415-825-0694. Flo is available to answer questions related to the transition.

WORK CHANGE: WeDriveU-Applied Materials to ABM Read More »

State of our Union Two Years In

Sisters and Brothers,
It has been a little over two years since you elected our administration, and we are happy to report to you that the state of our Union is Strong.

“because of you” [Steve, this might be a good place to write your personal message, etc etc]

So, let’s get to it and give you an update by the numbers:

Contracts: Teamsters Local 853 has secured more record contracts in the past two years than at almost any other time in our recent history. This success stems from a strong unity among our members and the guidance of our Business Agents, who identify legitimate opportunities and help members work toward these goals together. Unity means trusting one another, trusting the negotiating committee, and trusting the Local’s guidance to vote as a well-informed group. This formula has proven successful in nearly every contract over the past two years.

[Steve, I added Efren’s group even though they will not contribute to the Local’s bottom line – we still organized them]

Organizing: Recruiting new members is the lifeblood of any union, and the mantra “Grow or Die” rings true here. In the past two years, we’ve added more new members than in the previous 10 years combined, organizing roughly 500 new members. This is an outstanding achievement, one that marks our best performance in over a decade.

Staffing: Adding Business Agents and staff is always a balance between meeting member needs and managing finances. Teamsters Local 853’s finances have allowed us to expand in areas where we were lacking. In total, we’ve added four new full-time Business Agents, with only two retiring. This means we now have two additional Business Agents to address areas of need, while still maintaining a positive cash flow. After covering the costs of the new BAs, we continue to take in more money than we spend. This is how its done responsibly.

Finances: If you come to the member meetings, you will hear financial reports delivered to the members monthly. And what you will hear is that Teamsters Local 853’s cash flow is positive, meaning we are taking in more money and saving some of it for rainy day or unexpected future expenditures. Our financial house is in order. We are ready for our future.

[Steve, the weird economic and political shit is going to be happening that I suspect may impact Unions quite a bit over the next few years. I believe its important to acknowledge this with the members for two reasons. 1. Subtle way to get the members to connect their votes to their pocketbooks. 2. If shit hits the fan and lets say contracts get more challenging due to economic downturn, or organizing gets thwarted due to lack of NLRB support, we NEED an “I told you this might happen” and rightly blame the economy, not the EB for the problems. ]

Economic Future: Uncertainty in our economy often goes hand in hand with the strength and stability of our union. It would be irresponsible not to acknowledge that the current economic and political climate is concerning. We see the challenges ahead and are actively preparing for their potential impact. The good news is that we are ready. Our union has secured strong contracts in a wide range of political and economic environments before, and we are committed to doing so again. That said, it’s important to recognize how closely our success is tied to broader and local political conditions. This is why we dedicate so much effort to supporting candidates who stand with unions. Without lawmakers who champion policies that protect and uplift workers, the work we do would be far more difficult—if not impossible.

So, on behalf of the entire Executive Board, I want to once again tell you that the State of Teamsters Local 853 is strong, secure, and ready for our future.

But I will always say it, that what makes Teamsters Local 853 great is YOU our members, and the unity you bring. Good contracts, good growth, good finances, and good politics come from a membership that is well-informed, active, and most of all, unified.

If you want to get more connected to us, please sign up here for our email list and like and follow our Facebook and Instagram pages, where you will see updates daily on what we are doing at the local to maintain the above pillars of success.

In Union,
Steve Beck, Secretary-Treasurer and Principal Officer
Steven Lua, President
Ray Torres, Vice-President
Mike Henneberry, Recording Secretary
Trustee Joel Bellison
Trustee Andrew Nunes
Trustee Gloria Segura

State of our Union Two Years In Read More »

JC7 Locals Rally Around Striking Teamsters Who Went on to Secure an Industry-Leading Contract

Deciding to go on Strike is akin to going to war and should never be taken lightly. Before reaching this point, workers must exhaust every possible option to resolve disputes. So when Teamsters 853 members were asked, “Have you explored every possible avenue to secure a fair contract?” and they answered “YES,” yet still faced an impasse, they had no choice but to take action.

This was the circumstance for 177 drivers at US Foods in Livermore who voted last year to join Teamsters Local 853, determined to lock down the security and future they deserve for the work they do.

Living in the Bay Area, one of the most expensive places in the world comes with unique circumstances for workers. Without contractual support for long-term economics like health care, wages, and pensions, workers are left with a choice to either move away or start working more overtime. Most of us would like to think that we could continue to live in the house we raised our children in well into retirement, but this was moving out of reach for these members in their current situation.

So when they went on Strike, Teamsters 853 leadership called to ask for support for these members, and JC7 locals from across the Bay Area met the moment. For eight(8) days, these members, along with support from so many JC7 locals, walked the line. Not a single day went by without seeing members show up from other locals. Because of so much public visibility and pressure on the company, at the beginning of week two(II), an agreement was reached and proposed to the members. The company had had enough, and the workers were satisfied and ready to get back to their jobs with a victory in hand.

The result? A groundbreaking contract featuring a 13% wage increase on top of already competitive pay, improved workplace safety, paid administrative leave, and significant reductions in health care costs. This agreement stands as one of the strongest in the food delivery industry—a testament to the power of unity and collective action.

“I was so proud and humbled to have stood with all of these members through this fight,” said Ray Torres, Teamsters Local 853 Vice President and Strike Captain. “Their determination and desire for something better is a welcome addition to our Teamster Family at 853.”

Teamsters Local 853 Principal Officer Steve Beck echoed this sentiment: “These new members showed remarkable strength in the face of adversity. Their perseverance has earned them a new family within Teamsters Local 853, and we celebrate this monumental victory with them!” He continued, “But this win wasn’t just theirs—it was made possible by the unwavering support of the entire Teamster community. I want to personally thank Strike Captain Ray Torres and all the 853 Business Agents who stood by our members day and night, as well as Peter Finn and the leadership of Joint Council 7, Teamsters Warehouse Division Director Tom Erickson, and all the NorCal Teamsters Locals who played a part in making this strike a success. Their commitment did not go unnoticed. Under the leadership of General President Sean O’Brien, Teamsters are standing up and achieving unprecedented victories—and we are determined to keep that momentum going!”

Last Thought on the difficulty of striking: A Strike is no easy thing. A member decides that their long-term financial security takes priority over their current day-to-day financial security. They must lean on each other and stay focused, determined, and resilient in the face of this uncertainty. And that takes real courage. These members made the call and stepped up and earned this win. Congratulations to all the US Foods Teamsters in Livermore.

JC7 Locals Rally Around Striking Teamsters Who Went on to Secure an Industry-Leading Contract Read More »

Local 853 Costco Members Ratify Best Contract Yet

On Friday, March 7, Local 853 Costco Teamsters and Costco Teamsters across the country ratified a new three-year contract. The agreement includes wage increases, a twenty-two percent pension increase, premium increases, improved vacation, and, critically, a provision to make it easier to organize non-union employees for enhanced power at the bargaining table.

The approval of the agreement comes after months of arduous negotiations that took place all over the country, as is appropriate for a national agreement. In addition, rallies were held coast to coast, including a practice picket at the Hayward Business Center that brought together members from across Northern California.

Local 853 Costco Teamsters stood up and fought like they always do and ended up with the best contract in retail. Congratulations to all the members who made this win possible.

Local 853 Costco Members Ratify Best Contract Yet Read More »

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 »

VISTAR DRIVERS, Welcome to Teamsters Local 853

VISTAR Brothers,
My name is Steve Beck, I am the secretary-treasurer and Principal Officer at Teamsters Local 853. I am responsible for leading Teamsters Local 853.

Congratulations on the vote you recently took to become a Teamster. I want to welcome you into our Teamster family formally. I have already heard about and witnessed the unity your group has shown, which propelled you to a high-margin win on your vote. This unity is going to serve you well.

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 USFOODS, Coremark, UNFI, Sysco Foods, and Performance Food Groups are all Teamsters 853 members, 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 can you 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:

Sign Up

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

VISTAR DRIVERS, Welcome to Teamsters Local 853 Read More »

UNFI Ratified historic contract with Union healthcare and pension!!! Just weeks after collecting 1.3 Million in back Pay.

Drivers at UNFI Gilroy have just secured a historic contract with the company. And just weeks after forty-two(42) UNFI Teamster members secured 1.3 million dollars of back pay that was owed to them due to a wage calculation error.

This was a very strong second contract win for the members at UNFI. Not only increasing their wages above market rate but also securing Union Healthcare and Pensions.

“I am so proud of these members. These drivers did what works.” Said Teamsters Local 853 Vice President and UNFI Business Agent Ray Torres, “First, they determined what was important to them in this contract. Then, they determined a fair level of compensation based on their performance. Then most importantly, they trusted each other and the judgment of the leadership and negotiating committee and showed willingness to strike for those earnings.”

“We held the line strong,” said Ruben Lopez, the Chief Steward for UNFI “when we bargained the first contract, we knew we might not get everything we wanted, but this second time around because everyone held together, we advanced our positions on the Healthcare and Pension, and proved our worth over the past 3 years. This group deserves my highest praise.”

When presented in this way, the company understood that they needed to share their profits with the employees who made them successful.

UNFI is one of the four major Food Service Industry Trucking companies, along with PFG(Performance Food Groups/VISTAR), USFOODS, and SYSCO FOODS, that Teamsters Local 853 represent in the Bay Area.

If you know of any drivers or warehouse workers that are in the Bay Area food service industry not under Union Contract, let us know. If they want to be fairly compensated and protected for their work, let’s actively work to get them into our Teamster family for their sake and the sake of their families.

UNFI Ratified historic contract with Union healthcare and pension!!! Just weeks after collecting 1.3 Million in back Pay. 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.

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

We shouldn’t forget how many Teamsters were on the front line during the pandemic, like these members at Bimbo Bakery

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.

We shouldn’t forget how many Teamsters were on the front line during the pandemic, like these members at Bimbo Bakery Read More »