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853 Members at Zenith American voted unanimously 51-0 to reject Zenith’s last best and final offer

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.

853 Members at Zenith American voted unanimously 51-0 to reject Zenith’s last best and final offer Read More »

Teamsters Call to Boycott Smart & Final in California

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.

Teamsters Call to Boycott Smart & Final in California Read More »

Sunday, Nov 5th, was a historic day for Teamsters in the liquor industry. We Completed a Statewide Contract Ratification for 1500 members at Southern Glazers Wine & Spirits(SGWS) and Republic NationAL Distribution Company(RNDC)

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.

Sunday, Nov 5th, was a historic day for Teamsters in the liquor industry. We Completed a Statewide Contract Ratification for 1500 members at Southern Glazers Wine & Spirits(SGWS) and Republic NationAL Distribution Company(RNDC) Read More »

Amports overwhelmingly ratifies new 5-year contract.

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.”

Amports overwhelmingly ratifies new 5-year contract. Read More »

Sysco, RNDC, and Kelloggs Members Fight Big Business in Politics by contributing to “Drive” this week. You can, too!

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.

Sysco, RNDC, and Kelloggs Members Fight Big Business in Politics by contributing to “Drive” this week. You can, too! Read More »

Autonomous Vehicles are not ready, Join us as we take the fight to RoboTaxi Company, Cruise, in San Francisco this Tuesday, Oct. 24th

Sisters and Brothers,

When Governor Newsom vetoed AB316, a bill that would have protected Union Jobs and put corporate greed in check, Teamsters do what they have always done. Continue the fight at a different angle. Because we only lose when we stop fighting. So we continue using our considerable voice for working women and men in California to stand up for what is right.

In that spirit, the next battle has been chosen at the San Francisco Headquarters of RoboTaxi Company, Cruise.

On Oct. 24, Cruise, a robotaxi company backed by GM, Honda, Microsoft and others, will release their 3rd quarter earnings and we want a big crowd outside to tell them and their shareholders to put PEOPLE OVER PROFITS! Our families and communities should not be used as lab rats for corporations to profit.

WHERE AND WHEN
9:00 am Tuesday, Oct. 24
333 Brannan St.
(Stanford Alley)
San Francisco, CA 94107

If you think you can make it, please sign up here so we can best plan for this rally.

Autonomous Vehicles are not ready, Join us as we take the fight to RoboTaxi Company, Cruise, in San Francisco this Tuesday, Oct. 24th Read More »

Teamsters Lost 5 Billion to Yellow. Take One(1) minute to Write Senator Padilla here: Mismanaged companies like Yellow should not be able to avoid accountability by simply filing for bankruptcy.

Sisters and Brothers,

An informed and active electorate can get things done. That is why we are writing you today.

You may have heard the news that the freight company Yellow recently filed for bankruptcy, which put 22,000 Teamsters out of work and allowed Yellow to walk away from their responsibility and debt. Leaving Teamsters holding the bag for 5 Billion in financial sacrifices that were conceded by members to keep Yellow afloat since 2009.

But you, as an educated Teamster, can help right this wrong by taking one minute to fill out this form and send a pre-written letter to Senator Padilla asking him to consider the ramifications of these weak Bankruptcy laws and to support reform of our nation’s bankruptcy laws.

The reason corporations get away with this “free pass” bankruptcy is because not enough working citizens are aware that there is a better choice. We have to continually The reason corporations get away with this “free pass” bankruptcy is that not enough working citizens are aware that there is a better choice. We have to continually speak up in force as a significant voting block in California.

So we are asking you to take 1 minute out of your day to send this form letter to our Senior California Senator Alex Padilla to help right this bankruptcy wrong. The more well-educated we are on these topics, the more we can help control and prevent this type of injustice from happening in the future.

No Teamster working for a corporation is safe, while these bankruptcy laws remain the way they are. The next bankruptcy could be your employer, so please help and act now.

In Union,

Steve Beck, Steven Lua, and the entire Teamsters 853 Staff

Teamsters Lost 5 Billion to Yellow. Take One(1) minute to Write Senator Padilla here: Mismanaged companies like Yellow should not be able to avoid accountability by simply filing for bankruptcy. Read More »

Amports Members are in the middle of negotiating their next contract.

If you have ever purchased a new car and asked for something to be added to the car like a tow hitch or roof rack, where do you think these additions happen? Not at the factory. Large car companies ship cars with basic model builds, and when a dealership receives an order for a car modification, the Teamsters at Amports are the folks who do this work before the car arrives at the dealership. They are the gatekeepers between ordering the car and delivering it to the dealership with the requested modifications.

So the next time you or someone you know buys a new car in the Bay Area, just know that before that car gets delivered, it’s likely a skilled Teamster made sure that the car is properly equipped and ready to deliver.

So now these skilled workers at Amports are in the middle of negotiating their next contract. Pictured are members at the VW/Audi compound who are banding together to ensure they get a fair and good contract because they ensure Amports customers get a good product on the other end.

Amports Members are in the middle of negotiating their next contract. Read More »