Member Info

Lets do this right Now

Today is your day. Your ballot should have arrived by now at your house.

There is a reason why so many truck drivers in our Country are in a union, because they know its life changing for the better.

So no matter how much attention, and begging. and insincere letters they send you now that you have them scared, the fact is that if you vote UNION YES, you have just secured a better life for you and your family.

Corporations are beholden to their shareholders and are required to maximize profits. That is what you are up against. They see you as a source of profit so they want to cut your pay and benefits. Without a Union contract, you are against the shareholder without any way to push back.

So VOTE YES and mail your ballot back today, right now.

Need proof? It’s right here: teamsters853.org

Look at our website and see what we do day in and day out. On the home page are stories of what we do and the victories we win EVERY SINGLE DAY!

Let’s do this together, and knock it out of the park, and let those shareholders and management know you are worth more than they will ever give you willingly.

Ray Torres and the entire Teamster Local 853 staff and the 13,000 members we represent.

Lets do this right Now Read More »

Teamsters 853 knows what is fair and what is not because we represent The four largest companies in the food service industry! They all get better pay, benefits, and job protection than non-union employees.

The reason why the company will never pay you what you are worth without the Union is because they can divide you one at a time, and you will never know how much you left on the table. And you have no leverage if you don’t act as one group.

But we do. The Teamsters know exactly how much is on the table, and we will get it for you just like all of the drivers from all these other Food Delivery Driver companies.

Listen to Marcus From PFG in Gilroy. They went Union and just got their first contract this March, which was very good for wages, benefits and job protections. In the end, 100% of the drivers voted for the contract- it was that good!!

  • This Driver, Marcus, at PFG in Gilroy explains how they got a great wage increase which was a given because they acted as a group, but the contract was more important because it gives them rights and protections on the job they never had before to hold management accountable.
  • He also saw how the company tried to grab a few drivers and treated them really well to stop the Union, but in the end, even those drivers voted YES for their unbelievably good contract.
  • The company outright lied to their face, but it didn’t work.
  • Look at other operations that have gone Union in the Bay Area
  • Significant improvements in benefits, wages, and job protection were all there for these drivers, and they can be for you, too!!

Teamsters 853 knows what is fair and what is not because we represent The four largest companies in the food service industry! They all get better pay, benefits, and job protection than non-union employees. Read More »

Give it a Rest US Foods

US Foods Drivers in Tracy

The Union has a heart. It is not like the mindless corporations we battle, whose only goal is to maximize profit at your expense.

They want you to squabble about outdated penny fees and unlikely strikes so you don’t hear this:
– Union employees get paid better, period!
– Union employees get better health care, period!
– Union employees get better pensions, period!
…and straight-up Union employees don’t have to take crap from their employers anymore on the job or be subject to harassment or termination without cause because you will finally be protected on the job.

So, let’s set the record straight.
-You will not pay any initiation fees because we don’t enforce that
-You will not be forced to do any disciplinary activities because we don’t do that in our modern Union
-You won’t pay any union dues until you have a contract
-In the extremely unlikely event that a strike is considered, the members always get a vote on whether or not to strike, period.

And the company doesn’t want you to know this because if you VOTE UNION YES, then they can’t keep robbing you of your fair wages and benefits.

Take it from those who know and the drivers they support

Give it a Rest US Foods Read More »

US FOODS TRACY – Signup Cards and new videos from drivers

US FOODS Tracy,

We are crushing it right now and want to go out on a grand slam. If you know anyone left that you work with who has not signed a Union card, please forward this web page to them and ask them to sign it by clicking below and filling out the form.

Also, more US Foods Drivers have taken the time to record messages to you. Take a look, listen to what they have to say, they have all been there.

Sign The Union Card – Build a better Future

See these New US Foods drivers videos! not only from US Foods Drivers in California but also from US Foods drivers from Teamsters Local 104 in Arizona. Take it from those who have been through it! Stick together, and you will make a better life for yourself and your coworkers!

US FOODS TRACY – Signup Cards and new videos from drivers Read More »

US Foods Livermore Negotiating Updates

US Foods Drivers Group in Livermore,

We have a lot of movement going on right now regarding your progress and wanted to give you some updates.

  1. Your election has been recognized and certified by the NLRB(National Labor Relations Board.)
  2. We have assembled a bargaining committee of some of your fellow workers and have been in discussion.
  3. US Foods management has agreed to begin negotiating with your group this coming March.
  4. We will be announcing a proposal meeting for all US Foods Drivers in the next few weeks to discuss and submit a proposal to the company. This is where we all discuss what you want from the company. Then, we will draw up a formal proposal. 

Please stay tuned, and please attend the proposal meeting when we announce it to ensure you have your say and are informed of our progress.

In Union,

Ray Torres, Vice-President, Teamsters Local 853

US Foods Livermore Negotiating Updates Read More »

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:

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
Secretary-Treasurer and Principal Officer of Teamsters Local 853

US Foods, Welcome to Teamsters Local 853 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!

uS Foods Survey Read More »

US Foods Lies

There is a reason US Foods is giving you confusing and conflicting information. And, in some cases, outright lying about this vote.

WHY?:

US Foods will lose a lot of money once you become a union group. They can no longer dictate what they pay you and how they treat you. And that is a very big and expensive problem for the company. So, of course, they want you to vote no.

A YES VOTE means they can no longer take the profits they should rightly be paying you, the workers who make their company successful. Plain and simple math. You get that money now, not their shareholders.

These are some answers to the lies we have heard US Foods has been telling you.

LIE # 1 – the union can force you to strike —— TRUTH – A strike is always authorized by a vote of the members being asked to strike. The Union cannot force a group to strike in any circumstance.

LIE # 2 – US Foods would have addressed your concerns without involving the union if you had come to them before contacting the Union —— TRUTH – The company will do anything it can to keep you from Unionizing because they lose profits and control once the Union comes in and gets you the wages, benefits, and job protection you deserve.

LIE # 3 – US Foods cant give you a cost of living raise while you are in a Union Vote —— TRUTH – The company can give you a cost of living increase as long as they are not giving it to you in exchange for a NO VOTE

LIE # 4 – You will pay initiation fees —– TRUTH – You will NOT pay any initiation fees to join the union, ever.

LIE # 5 – You will pay union fees as soon as you vote yes —- TRUTH – You will NOT pay union dues until your group has a contract with US Foods.

VOTE YES – and change your life for the better. Let’s get to the process of moving some of those profits over to where they belong: the workers! 💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽

US Foods Lies Read More »

US Foods – How To Cast Your Vote – The Dos and Don’ts

US Foods Drivers, ballots were mailed out to your home on December 14th. A better future for you is today. CHECK YOUR MAILBOX!!!

There has been some confusion on how to vote. We have heard that US FOODS has been giving confusing, conflicting, or straight-out misinformation regarding this vote.

When you vote, ONLY MAKE ONE MARK on the Ballot—your vote. Marking your ballot in any other way will make the ballot invalid. – DO NOT SIGN IT, DO NOT DATE IT, just put an X in the box for your YES vote!!!

Mail your ballot back right away. If you fail to mail your ballot, your vote will not be counted.

DO NOT Sign the Ballot or mark it in any way other than your vote.

You will NOT pay any initiation fees to join the union.

You will NOT pay union dues until your group has a contract with US Foods.

Vice President Teamsters Local 104 in Arizona, who represents US Foods drivers sets the record straight on their last contract with US Foods.

Their last contract got a $3.35 raise upfront with $1 raises the subsequent 3 years along with free Teamsters health insurance for members and their families and Teamster Pension Fund. That is the power of bargaining as a unit, and not just taking what the employer offers.

If you have any questions, give Teamsters 853 Vice President Ray Torres a call at 661-903-2980.

Remember, in California these are the Union differences between Union and Non-Union. 
So if you vote YES, you will be more likely to secure better benefits and salary.

-higher wages (11.2% more than what nonunion workers make)
-employer-provided health insurance (96% compared to 69%)
-access to paid sick days (93% compared to 75%)
-retirement benefits through private employers (82% to 48%);
-and pensions through private employers are much more likely (54% to 8%).

Let’s do this. Pave the way to a stronger and better future for you and your family.

US Foods – How To Cast Your Vote – The Dos and Don’ts Read More »

I’m just one member of Teamsters Local 853, What can I do?

Sisters and Brothers,

For the entire time you will be a Teamsters 853 member, you will hear from the leadership to get involved with your union. We throw out slogans like “We are stronger together”, and “Strength in numbers”.

But what does it really mean to get involved with the Teamsters 853 union? What can one member do to help. And how does that effort translate into helping our members or working women and men in general?

Three new members make a huge impact.

This is the story of Three Premier Recycler members in San Jose who stood up to testify to the San Jose City Council on wage theft. Their testimony contributed to convincing several council members to aggressively and publically stand up to Premier Recycle and advocate specifically for the workers and their contract.

Roughly a year ago, Premier Recycle workers in San Jose voted to unionize their workplace as Teamster 853 members. For the past year, Premier Recycle has employed standard union-busting tactics to stall a Union contract from moving forward. The longer they stall, the better it is for them.

So recently, Teamster 853 members Alex Obeso, Ramon Castillo, and Mike Flores from Premier Recycle, along with Business Agent Jesse Casqueiro and Vice President Ray Torres, took the opportunity to make statements to the San Jose City Council on wage theft in their industry.

Around the same time, a letter was written on behalf of three of the San Jose city council members to the company that owns Premier Recycle. This excerpt sums up the tone of the letter.

“We are well acquainted with the strategies you are all implementing to intimidate your workers from organizing and ensuring a quality workplace. We have heard concerns of safety & wage theft claims, falsification of votes, unwarranted surveillance and a general environment of hostility, division and divisiveness among other unfair labor practices.
Let it be known that we take jeopardizing the wellbeing of working families as a personal issue. The resilience and strength of San José is built upon the labor of the working-class. This is an understanding that many of our Council colleagues share. ”

San Jose Councilmember, Peter Ortiz

Read the whole letter from three San Jose council members to the owners of Premier Recycle.

This is the power of participation of just three members of Teamsters Local 853, who stepped up and decided to get involved. Their actions resulted in securing strong allies in government who will advocate for workers everywhere. 

So when you say, “I’m just one member of Teamsters Local 853, what can I do?” We say a lot!!! Now you know just one way members can change things for the better.

There are also simple ways to get involved in your union.

Teamsters are stronger together. Get involved in your Union, and make a difference!

Teamsters Local 853

I’m just one member of Teamsters Local 853, What can I do? Read More »