Strike

US Foods Drivers End Strike – Secures Industry Leading Contract for Food Service industry

Teamsters Local 853 is excited to announce the end of the US Foods strike in Livermore, where a proposal was just voted on and has been ratified by the membership.

Point blank, this was an incredible, industry-leading contract that secured significant wage gains, badly needed health care relief and safety language that allowed the drivers to determine whether routes and trucks are safe to work, and authority to remedy safety concerns.

This contract has been a struggle from the start. These drivers voted to join the Teamsters in 2024 and, for many months, have been negotiating with the company. When things soured and their backs were against the wall, they had no choice but to strike. It was a decision that was not taken lightly.

“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 very welcome addition to our over 13,000-person strong Teamster Family at 853.”

This was a Teamster community effort. We want to recognize all of the members and other locals who took the time to stand with our members. Your support was critical in keeping the momentum and motivation up.

Special shout out to Director of the Teamsters Warehouse Division, Tom Erickson, for his guidance and support, and everyone who contributed at the IBT.

Stay tuned to this space, as there will be more to come, but for now, we want to recognize and congratulate every one of the drivers at US Foods in Livermore!!!!!!!

US Foods Drivers End Strike – Secures Industry Leading Contract for Food Service industry Read More »

THESE 177 NEW TEAMSTERS AT US FOODS ARE ON STRIKE, CAN YOU SUPPORT THEM?

Deciding to go on Strike is somewhat like going to war and should never be taken lightly. Every exhaustible position must be tried between the opposing parties before they reach this boiling point. So when these Teamster members were asked, “Have you explored every possible avenue to secure a fair contract?” and they answered “YES,” yet a contract still wasn’t reached, they had no choice but to go on strike.

This is the circumstance for 177 drivers at US Foods in Livermore who voted last year to join Teamsters Local 853, in search of securing the security and future they deserve for the work they do. The sticking points and goals have always revolved around long-term economics, such as health care and retirement.

Living in the Bay Area, one of the most expensive places in the world, comes with exceptional circumstances for workers. Because these members understand this and believe so passionately in long-term security, they were willing to sacrifice their own income to divert into a retirement plan with no cost to the company. But without contractual support for these goals, post retirement, these members will be left with a choice to either move away or start working more overtime hours now to improve their long-term economic viability. 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 seems out of reach for these members at this point.

So we are asking ALL of the Teamsters in the Bay Area to help these new member secure their future by walking the picket line and supporting these members in Livermore. US Foods has recently announced year-over-year record Net Profits, and these drivers helped put them there. So let’s support these members and show our Bay Area communities that when Teamsters Strike, we have each other’s backs.

Where: 
US Foods | Distribution Center
300 Lawrence Dr, Livermore, CA 94551
When: 
Any time after 7 PM, Sunday, March 2nd
Indefinitely 

Contact:
For any additional information on the Strike 
contact Teamsters Local 853 Vice-President Ray Torres at: ‭(661) 903-2980‬

ONLINE SOCIAL MEDIA CONTENT

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These new Teamsters at Local 853 have exhausted every avenue at the bargaining table and are at the end of their rope.  So they have chosen to STRIKE!! 

 If you are available to support our fellow Teamsters, please join them and walk the picket line. SHOW UP, BE LOUD, let US FOODS know we’re gonna fight hard, and do what it takes! 

Where: 
US Foods | Distribution Center
300 Lawrence Dr, Livermore, CA 94551
When: 
Any time after 7 PM, Sunday, March 2nd
Indefinitely 

Contact:
For any additional information on the Strike 
contact Teamsters Local 853 Vice-President Ray Torres at: ‭(661) 903-2980‬

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Walking the line

THESE 177 NEW TEAMSTERS AT US FOODS ARE ON STRIKE, CAN YOU SUPPORT THEM? Read More »

Teamsters Local 912, now 853, was the center of the Universe in the 1980s during the Watsonville Strike – watch the Movie, March 8th

Sisters and Brothers,

During a time when Ronald Reagan broke the back of the Air Traffic Controllers, Union work and protections was heavily debated. It was during this time that these Teamsters went on Strike for eighteen(18) months as a beacon of solidarity and justice for the workers who make all the money for the frozen foods corporations in Watsonville.

On March 8th, there will be a screening of a documentary that highlights their struggle. This is a significant part of the history of the Parajo Valley. Don’t miss the opportunity to understand what the workers before you had to do to establish the rights, wages, and benefits you now enjoy. And the legacy they have left you.

Be sure to get tickets in advance here at this link 👉 Watsonville on Strike.

Get tickets

Also showing after is a follow-up documentary: Daughters of the Strike / Hijas de la huelga. (This short film features sisters Blanca and Wendy, and their mother Sylvia, a former cannery worker and one of the striking workers during the historic Watsonville Cannery Strike of the mid-1980s. )

CineLux Green Valley Cinema
Movie Theater
1125 South Green Valley Road Watsonville, CA 95076
March 8, 2025, 6:30 - 8:30 PM PST

Watsonville On Strike is an intimate portrait of the 18-month cannery workers’ strike which virtually paralyzed this rural California town

This superb documentary showing the unvarnished facts of long, hard-fought labor battle–workers united, workers divided, the high and low points–may be the best introduction yet available to the realities of class struggle as it exists today. 

–Jessica Mitford, Author

Update: March 20th

Teamsters 853 Business Agents Santos Lerma, Gloria Segura, and Ralph Campos were in attendance for this film. Below are some of the women who participated in the strike and attended the showing. 18 Months was the strike of all strikes. These members are amazing.

Teamsters Local 912, now 853, was the center of the Universe in the 1980s during the Watsonville Strike – watch the Movie, March 8th Read More »

Martin Luther King Jr.: Champion of Labor Unions and Equality for All

853 Sisters and Brothers,

On this MLK day, we would like to remind you of the ties between King’s efforts and the success of the Labor Movement in the 50s and 60s. We felt it important we understand the history of a man whose efforts built a foundation that we all now stand on.

Labor and Equal Rights

Martin Luther King Jr. was not only a leader in the civil rights movement but also a passionate advocate for labor unions and workers’ rights. He understood that economic justice was inseparable from racial equality and believed that unions were essential to building a fair and equitable society. King’s work demonstrated that the fight for civil rights was also a fight for the dignity and well-being of all workers, regardless of race or class.

King consistently supported labor unions, viewing them as a powerful force for social and economic change. He praised the labor movement for transforming oppressive conditions into progress and opportunity, declaring that unions were “the first anti-poverty program.” King stood in solidarity with workers, joining strikes and protests to demand fair wages, safe working conditions, and the right to unionize.

King’s Death

Tragically, King was killed in Memphis, there to support the 1968 Memphis sanitation workers’ strike, where he championed the cause of Black workers who marched under the rallying cry “I Am a Man.” Cementing his legacy as a tireless advocate for labor rights.

Equality in our modern time

While labor unions were central to King’s vision, his advocacy extended to broader struggles for equality. He believed that economic justice and racial justice were deeply intertwined and that no group could achieve true freedom without solidarity among all marginalized communities. King often emphasized that injustice in one area threatened justice everywhere, urging people of all backgrounds to unite in the pursuit of equality.

King’s legacy as a champion of labor unions and universal human dignity serves as a reminder that the fight for justice requires collective action. His unwavering commitment to economic and social equality continues to inspire movements for fairness and opportunity today.

Martin Luther King Jr.: Champion of Labor Unions and Equality for All Read More »

A well earned Holiday Gift – Premier Recycling Inks first contract at 100% Ratification

Courage, integrity, tenacity, grit, justice, fairness….These are all words that come to mind when speaking about the drivers at Premier Recycling, who, in 2022, voted for union representation. They courageously stood up for their rights in the face of a very combative employer.

So today is a very special day. We are proud to report that the members at Premier Recycling have ratified their first contract at 100%. We couldn’t be more excited to see these drivers get their first contract, their back pay, and a bright future ahead of them. They are the heroes in this story. Grinding it out, day after day, as they put their trust in each other and in Teamsters Local 853. What a holiday gift to everyone who has ever stood up for fairness and integrity on the job.

“Employers should take note when they see their employees organize and step into their offices to address their issues as a collective.” said Premier Steward Ramon Castillo. “Ignoring issues regarding the safety and treatment of the workers is what led us to unionize this company. By no means was this easy, especially when an employer has the money, union busters, and resources to try and exhaust the pro-union supporters into giving up. The more we were told we would never win, the more determined we became with our solidarity.” “True solidarity was these members really standing with us even when all three stewards were removed from the job. Teamster brothers George Ochoa, Ernie DeLatorre, Jose Lopez, Dante Funtila, Rafael Quiniones, Armando Aguilar, Ken Stewart and Albert Velasco. Thank you!!”

This was truly an all-hands-on-deck effort by the entire labor community.

As it proves, time and time again, if you are a company that decides to act in bad faith with a legally formed union group, you will lose. Every time. End of story.

We would like to especially recognize our Premier Recycling stewards, Mike Flores, Alex Obeso, and Ramon Castillo. These members went through extraordinary efforts to build the base on which their membership stood.

We also want to recognize the entire labor community, the JC7, and all the Bay Area Labor Councils and Bay Area Building Trades who stood behind these workers by authorizing picket actions, denouncing Premier Recycling’s anti-union actions, and ending the company’s ability to perform pro-union labor agreements. This kind of pressure on the company was simply undeniable and very taxing.

And would be remiss not to acknowledge the tireless efforts of Business Agents Jesse Casqueiro, James Long, our union attorney Abel Rodriguez, and Teamsters Local 853 Vice President Ray Torres, who graciously stepped in at the eleventh hour to push our negotiations over for the win.

So now that we have a contract in place, we want these Teamsters to thrive on that next contract. That means recognizing that the company came to terms with a union workforce. And it’s now in the interest of all of the above-mentioned parties to support Premier Recycling as a Union entity. We dust ourselves off from our disagreement and support every effort to make Premier a successful business for the sake of our members and good business practices in our communities.

To all the Teamster 853 members at Premier, Happy Holidays!!! Welcome to the fight and to the Teamster family.

Below is just some of the history behind this contract.

400+ Days Since Premier Recycling Voted to Organize as they continue to work towards a first contract. After 3 wrongful layoffs, 1 wrongful termination, and countless hours of picketing, they deserve our respect and support for Staying Strong.
Premier Recycle Members on Strike
Three Premier Recycler members in San Jose who stood up to testify to the San Jose City Council on wage theft.
Teamster 853 Members Make Public Statements & Successfully Convince San Jose City Council

Full Quote from Ramon Castillo, Premier Recycling Steward:

Employers should take note when they see their employees organize and step into their offices to address their issues as a collective. Ignoring those issues regarding the safety and treatment of the workers is what led us to unionize this company. By no means was this easy, especially when an employer has the money, union busters, and resources to try and exhaust the pro-union supporters into giving up. The more we were told we would never win, the more determined we became with our solidarity. Workers were shamed, family’s were effected and livelihoods. In the end, our resilience prevailed. Gracias to the Teamsters Local 853: Steve Beck, Ray Torres, the business agents Pablo Barrera, Jesse Casqueiro, James Long, and union attorney Abel Rodriguez. Another big gracias to San Jose councilman Peter Ortiz for his support. I’m proud to have led this battle with my brothers, Michael Flores and Alex Obeso. Workers look like us too, whether anyone likes it or not. Last but not least thank you to the membership my Teamster brothers George Ochoa, Ernie DeLatorre, Jose Lopez, Dante Funtila, Rafael Quiniones, Armando Aguilar, Ken Stewart and Albert Velasco for their full commitment from beginning to end. I couldn’t have asked for a more solid team. Someone once told us at this company we could get fired for anything because the company wasn’t Union. Thank you because it only motivated us. Contract in place and Si La Hicimos!

Video Created by the Members

A well earned Holiday Gift – Premier Recycling Inks first contract at 100% Ratification Read More »

READY TO STRIKE – Teamsters 853 Truck Drivers authorized to Strike the San Francisco Unified School District along with nine other sister Unions in the Common Crafts Coalition and United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters.

The San Francisco Unified School District has been dragging its feet on an expired contract representing several Unions in the Common Crafts Coalition and the United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters. Last week, these unions, of which Teamsters 853 is one, were authorized to strike if the SFUSD cannot get their act together and hammer out a fair and equitable contract for these workers. This strike will be far-reaching and significantly impact the SF Unified School District’s operations as they represent many members from the following unions.

TEAMSTERS, LOCAL 853
CARPENTERS AND LOCKSMITH, LOCAL 22
UNITED ASSOCIATION OF JOURNEYMEN AND APPRENTICES OF THE PLUMBING AND PIPEFITTING INDUSTRY OF THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA, LOCAL 38
UNITE UNION OF ROOFERS, WATERPROOFERS AND ALLIED WORKERS, LOCAL 40
SHEET METAL WORKERS INTERNATIONAL UNION, LOCAL 104
IRON WORKERS UNION, LOCAL 377
GLAZIERS, ARCHITECTURAL METAL AND GLASS WORKERS UNION, LOCAL 718
LABORERS INTERNATIONAL UNION OF AMERICA, LOCAL 261
AUTO, MARINE AND SPECIALTY PAINTERS, LOCAL 1176
MACHINISTS, LOCAL 1414

Stay focused, stay unified, and get that good contract!! All of Teamsters 853 is behind you!!

READY TO STRIKE – Teamsters 853 Truck Drivers authorized to Strike the San Francisco Unified School District along with nine other sister Unions in the Common Crafts Coalition and United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters. Read More »

Peter Ortiz, Domingo Candelas, Omar Torres

San Jose Members – Council Members Back Premier Recycling Teamsters 853 Members

We cannot do it alone. Cities and towns that support unions aren’t simply willed into being. Working and living in a city that supports unions is the result of vocal members of the community and body politic.

We, as Teamsters 853 members, have to be aware of the politics in our cities and towns and then actively vote for elected officials that support union workplaces.

In the case of San Jose, Teamsters Local 853 would like to acknowledge three city council members who have been recent standouts for supporting our members’ causes. They have worked to bring and maintain fair and equitable employment to the people who work and live in San Jose.

San Jose City Councilmember Peter Ortiz, who represents District 5

San Jose City Councilmember Omar Torres, who represents District 3

San Jose City Councilmember Domingo Candelas, who represents District 8

All three of these council members showed up at our Strike at Premier Recycle and also penned a letter to the owners of Premier Recycle expressing support for the workers there. Premier Recycle has benefited from many San Jose city contracts, so the influence on their business from these council members is considerable.

Thank you, Councilmembers Ortiz, Torres, and Candelas, for your support. You have our backs, and come election time; San Jose Teamsters will have yours!!

Below is the letter these council members wrote to the owners of Premier Recycle.

San Jose Members – Council Members Back Premier Recycling Teamsters 853 Members Read More »