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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.

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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.

Our monthly member meeting for November is this Thursday, November 9th at 7PM. Show up and participate in the events and decisions that affect your Union and workplace.

Time: Doors Close at 7 PM(usually 30-60 min. long)
Where: Teamsters Local Union 853, 7750 Pardee Lane
Oakland, California 94621 - Phone: 510-895-8853

Today was a good day for all the Teamsters who work at the Amports compounds on this new contract. Negotiations secured the highest pay raises in Amport’s history while not giving up any other current benefits. Gains were also made on Vacation and some other important language in the contract.

“Our members stuck together and really made it happen.” Said Business Agent Efren Alarcon, “we have separate compounds for many hard-working members at Amports including; Mazda / Vinfast (Vietnamese car maker), GM, VW / Audi / Porsche & Bentley, Toyota & the Core Compound. It’s a really good contract, thanks to everyone who dug in and got it done.”

Through grassroots political action and aggressive lobbying on Capitol Hill, State Houses, and City Halls across America, Teamsters have stopped some of the worst attacks on working people.

But Big Business is always aggressively pushing their agenda to increase profits at workers’ expense. They outspend working families on politics by more than 15-1. But you can help us fight back. Contributing to the “Drive”. “Drive” is the Teamsters’ political action committee that gives Teamsters the political muscle to work on national issues of improving job safety and providing affordable childcare and to stopping abuses by corporate health providers and insurance companies.

Can you take a stand for working families by contributing to DRIVE? Your contribution will support grassroots action by Teamster families to stand up to Big Business interests.

Three key focuses for Drive are:

• Keeping members and their families informed on the key issues that affect our future, including voter guides that show the records of our Senators and Representatives in Congress.
• Rallies, news conferences, advertisements, and phone banks to build support on issues of concern to working people.
• Voter registration and financial support for political candidates who will stand up for working families. DRIVE is non-partisan and independent of any political party.

So the next time we come out to your workplace to become a contributing member to “Drive” , say yes, contribute, and help us tip the scales in our favor.

Big shout out to the Right Away crew, who just ratified a 3-year contract extension. Congratulations!!!