Uncategorized

Unions and politics go hand-in-hand. Without legislators (Elected Officials) to make laws to protect working people, our Union efforts would be very difficult to maintain. Unions are outspent 15 to 1 by big businesses trying to marginalize Union protections. Their goal is always to weaken laws so they can get more profits by squeezing their workforce.

But our secret weapon is our votes and numbers. Every year, Unions work with politicians to make laws protecting workers’ rights and preventing worker exploitation.

One avenue that Teamsters Local 853 uses to this end is participation in the COPE Conventions (Committee on Political Education), where labor-related organizations from around the Bay Area assemble and decide how to combine efforts best to further labor-related agendas in politics.

This COPE convention was held last week in Oakland, and one of the agenda items was to determine what politicians Labor will be endorsing for the upcoming Primary Elections in 2024.

So, our message to you, sisters and brothers, is to be active in your union and be aware of the politicians who protect workers in your community. Most importantly, be sure to GET OUT AND VOTE for those politicians both during the primary elections in 2024 and the general election. Without your vote, those politicians cannot help us.

Please stay tuned and watch this space as we will be releasing our political endorsements for 2024.

Pictured at the COPE Convention are Teamsters 853 Recording Secretary and Business Agent Mike Henneberry, Business Agent Cesar Martinez, Business Agent Efren Alarcon, and not pictured but present is Business Agent James Long.

After eleven and a half months of negotiations, zoo keepers at the Oakland Zoo signed off on the first union contract ever at the venerable institution. Amazingly, since its founding over one hundred years ago, the workers at the East Bay landmark have been non-union.

Organized last Summer, negotiations began under Local 853’s new administration in January. Talks were initially somewhat rocky, but the parties established a rapport based on mutual trust and respect, knowing that this was the only way to reach an agreement that would benefit the workers and the zoo. The result is arguably one of the finest contracts in the nation for zoo keepers.

The hard work of the membership, the bargaining committee, and the leadership committee was key to bringing the contract home. The agreement will be voted on before the first of the year with the enthusiastic and unanimous support of the negotiating and leadership committees.

Pictured above (l-r) are Oakland Zoo CEO Nik Dehejia, bargaining committee member Ashley Xiong, bargaining committee member Stacie Piccone, bargaining committee member Madison Brandon, BJ Allen People & Culture, Michelle Myers VP People & Culture, Teamsters Local 853 Recording Secretary & Business Agent Mike Henneberry. Not pictured (but there in spirit) is Oakland Zoo Board Member & bargaining committee member Steve Kane.   

1500 Teamster members from Local 100 in Northern Kentucky and Ohio who work for CVG DHL voted to Unionize earlier in the year. Since then, DHL has chosen not to negotiate in good faith, which has resulted in these workers voting nearly unanimously to strike.

Subsequently, today, December 6th, we have been informed that DHL management has held captive audience meetings at both Sunnyvale and Watsonville DHL in an attempt to dissuade these workers from supporting the CVG DHL members out of solidarity. The members, however, were not phased by the scare tactic language at these meetings and are ready to do whatever is necessary to support Teamster Local 100 Members at CVG DHL.

Stay strong, don’t let up, and get that contract!! 💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽

Teamster Local 853 members at the SF Unified and members of the Crafts Coalition (ten locals including Carpenters, Machinists, Painters, and six other trades coordinated by the Building Trades Council) forced the district to do the right thing and pay up what they’ve owed the members for a long time.

Two years of dysfunction and non-payment were resolved after a weekend of crisis bargaining avoiding a strike set for Monday, December 4.

The members met at 6 am and then met with the superintendent. The Superintendent publicly acknowledged that all monies owed would be paid.

💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽 Union solidarity and Teamster muscle resolved a situation that had been festering for way too long.

Pictured left to right are SFUSD Teamsters Dennis Cruz (Shop Steward), Thadius Sparks, Paul Brennan & Miguel Segura.

Sisters and brothers, read about current events that impact your work and your workplace. Learn about healthcare, retirement, scholarships, member discounts, paid leave, workers’ compensation, retirement, and many more items.

Sign up to receive email updates from Teamster 853 Locals. Specify Spanish as your preferred language and we will send important notifications and events to your email in Spanish.

En Unión,

Steve Beck, Steven Lua and the entire Teamsters 853 Staff

Congratulations to Teamster 853 President Steven Lua, Vice-President Ray Torres, and Business Agent and Trustee Gloria Segura as they were sworn in this week to sit on the South Bay Labor Council.

The meeting was joined by Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, who represents the 18 District, and Congressman Jimmy Panetta, who represents the 19th District in the House of Representatives. Both gave a solid message to labor and all working people to remember that diversity is our strength, but unity is our power.

Labor Councils are where politics and labor meet. They are local organizations that work with state and community organizations to improve the lives of working families. They conduct campaigns at the local, state, and national levels.

Having three additional Teamster 853 Members on the Council ensures that working women and men in the Teamster organization have a strong voice in guiding local politics that affect their work.

To all the members at Premier Recycling, we see you and applaud all the strength you have shown to stand up for your rights. You have maintained a steadfast commitment to a fair and equitable contract. A big shout-out to all of you as you continue to grind it out. You make us proud.

These members have had to endure three wrongful layoffs, one wrongful termination, false police reports, a frivolous restraining order, and false accusations of criminal activity and being gang members.

Pictured above are stewards Ramon Castillo, Alex Obeso, Mike Florez, and driver George Ochoa as they meet at the 853 Union Hall to join Zoom negotiations with the company. – Getting some movement and tentative agreements with the help of attorney Abel Rodriguez.

On November 15th, Zenith American members voted 51-0 to reject their employer’s last, best, and final contract proposal. The union has reached out to the company to get back into bargaining to negotiate a contract that meets the members’ needs.

Zenith American Local 853 members administer health and welfare, and pension benefits for Operating Engineers Local 3.
Pictured left to right are bargaining committee members Alexia Alexander, Teamsters Secretary-Treasurer Steve Beck, and Vanessa Wadley as they discuss strategy. Vanessa also serves as chief steward.

Hundreds of Teamsters working at Smart & Final in Southern California are on strike in the face of the company’s ongoing unfair labor practices.
Workers voted for union representation, but now Grupo Comercial Chedraui – a $13 billion Mexican company that owns Smart & Final – plans to fire them all and force workers to re-apply for jobs at a new distribution warehouse for lower wages and weaker benefits. Chedraui/Smart & Final has committed other egregious violations of federal labor law, including threatening workers, withholding and delaying benefits, and taking other actions that interfere with and retaliate against employees for exercising their right to form and join a union.

“Do not give your hard-earned money to a company that refuses to treat workers with dignity and respect.“

Stand in solidarity with the Teamsters by boycotting Smart & Final stores and signing a petition for Chedraui CEO Carlos Smith to respect these workers.

Approximately 1500 members from 17 Teamster Locals in the Liquor industry in California came to an agreement and ratified their contract on Sunday.

“This was a great contract,” Said Liquor Chairman and Teamster 853 Secretary-Treasurer Steve Beck. “We secured strong improvements to contract language and increases to benefits. But the thing I’m most happy with was the Northern California members coming together to vote in additional holidays for members in Southern California to match what the Northern CA members already have. They did this with no financial gain for themselves, only out of fairness and solidarity with the members in Southern California. That is the true meaning of standing in solidarity. And its how we win our best contracts”.

A big thank you to the negotiating committee who contributed to this contract. You all made this happen. Teamsters Locals 70, 87, 137, 150,166, 186, 315, 431, 630, 665, 683, 848, 853, 856, 952, 986, and 2785.