Union Busting

Victory – California legislature passed SB399, giving workers and unions a big win! But there’s more to do.

California Worker Freedom from Employer Intimidation Act (Act) is to take effect on January 1, 2025, and Teamsters Local 853 was there in Sacramento to help make it happen.

The new California law prohibits mandatory employer meetings regarding labor organizations, which are known as captive audience meetings. Specifically, an employer is prohibited from subjecting or threatening to subject an employee to discharge, discrimination, or retaliation because the employee declines to attend an employer-sponsored meeting or refuses to listen to any communications with the employer or its agents where the purpose is to communicate the employer’s opinion about religious or political matters which includes labor organizations. An employer who violates this section shall be subject to a civil penalty of five hundred dollars ($500) per employee for each violation.

“This law prevents employers from punishing their employees for not attending forced anti-union meetings,” said Teamsters Local 853 President Steven Lua, “It’s legislation that will really help combat worker intimidation during union drives, and with the number of organizing drives on our plate, it is a welcome weapon to our arsenal.” “but there are still ways that companies can retaliate, so the end goal is legislation that makes anti-union meetings completely illegal,” added Steven. “Our job is not done here until we see that happen in future legislation.”

Teamsters Local 853 would like to recognize the two State Senators who introduced this legislation. In this election season, it’s important to recognize and vote for these pro-union, pro-worker politicians in California.

Bill introduced by State Senator Aisha Wahab

Bill co-authored by California State Senator Maria Elena Durazo

Pictured is Teamsters 853 Business Agent James Long, who, along with peers from Teamsters Local 2785, Teamsters Local 150, and Teamsters Local 350, spent their day walking the halls of the State Capitol building talking to politicians about the importance of this bill.

Victory – California legislature passed SB399, giving workers and unions a big win! But there’s more to do. Read More »

Labor Day – The battle between the rich and the working class – How FDR(Franklin D. Roosevelt) Changed everything for Unions in 1937

In the 1920s and 30s, union membership had been decreasing significantly for decades. The gap between the rich and middle class was at a high point in history for that time period. It was a time when the rich were able to exploit workers almost unrestricted. Federal laws protecting workers’ rights to Unionize were weak, with little real ability to force companies to follow labor protection laws.

Enter FDR

Historically, Franklin D. Roosevelt was widely considered the second-best president of the United States, only behind Abraham Lincoln. He shepherded our country through WW2 and the Great Depression and, as part of his New Deal agenda, passed some of the most significant laws in history to protect and lift up the middle class.

These laws gave Americans the rights and the tools to even out the wealth gap and provide more fairness between workers and companies.

As part of this “New Deal,” FDR signed into law the single most impactful pro-union legislation in history. It was called the Wagner Act, which gave real teeth to enforce workers’ rights and push back at corporate exploitation.

As a result, unions experienced a massive increase in membership in the late 30s, 40s, and 50s, and they were arguably responsible for building the middle class in America.

Labor Day 2024

So today, on Labor Day 2024, Teamsters Local 853 would like to commemorate FDR for what he did for working women and men in America. And for fundamentally giving Teamsters and every other Union the rights and protections to thrive.

But, more is needed at this point in history.

It’s easy to get nostalgic about a time eight decades ago as a great era for Unions, but we would be remiss in pointing out that corporate exploitation of workers has been increasing since the 1960s, and Union membership has been declining since then as a result. But there is hope. Over the past three years, we have lived in a resurgence of union support, largely due to our current presidential administration. President Biden is widely known and accepted as the most pro-Union president since Franklin Delano Roosevelt. So we are privileged to currently live in an era where we are beginning to reverse many decades of worker exploitation. You probably see it in all the record contracts of the past three years. We hope that eighty years from now, unions will look back fondly and speak of the two great presidents for Labor. One of which presided in our time.

Teamster 853 Sisters and Brothers, Enjoy your weekend and take pride in the work you do and the point in history we, as Union members, occupy. Most of all, join us in respecting all those who came before us, giving us the wages and job protection that help keep the goals of a strong middle class alive.

Teamsters Strong, Teamsters Proud

Labor Day – The battle between the rich and the working class – How FDR(Franklin D. Roosevelt) Changed everything for Unions in 1937 Read More »

Not so fast, Tony’s Fine Foods, we will take our jobs back with full back pay and benefits

Aurelio Mendoza and Ivan Gonzalez are Tony’s Fine Foods stewards who were instrumental in moving the organizing drive forward for their group. So when this group voted UNION YES, what did the company do? They tried to terminate the employment of Aurelio and Ivan on some trumped-up charges. How surprising.

Under the law, this is called retaliation, and it is illegal in the United States.

So despite the company’s best efforts to intimidate these members, we are happy to announce that, yes, the law is on our side. And with the help of Teamsters Local 853 under the guidance of Vice President Ray Torres, Aurelio and Ivan are both back to work with full back pay and back benefits.

And as a general rule, if you are an employer and illegally terminate key union members who also sit on the contract negotiating committee, you have just made extremely motivated enemies of the company. And they are going to bring that energy to the negotiating table and the company will pay the price for such an abuse of power.

Not so fast, Tony’s Fine Foods, we will take our jobs back with full back pay and benefits Read More »

Performance Food Group Livermore – Take it from those PFG Members who know – stick together, Hold the line and Your lives will change for the better!

PFG Gilroy Members Who Just Voted To Unionize Have a Message for PFG in Livermore.

PFG members from Teamsters Local 863 in New Jersey have a message for PFG Livermore.

Soldier on and keep up the fight. Don’t believe these Union Busters; they will tell you anything they need to in an attempt to divide you and collect their pay from PFG.

In Union,

Your Teamster brothers and sisters, far and wide, who are in the fight with you!!

Performance Food Group Livermore – Take it from those PFG Members who know – stick together, Hold the line and Your lives will change for the better! Read More »

An ask from Teamsters 853 Leadership. Every penny helps these Amazon Members. Do not be embarrassed to donate as little as $1. It helps.

Sisters and Brothers,

Members in Southern California have been fighting with Amazon to bargain, and as most anti-union companies do, they are stalling to negotiate a contract. They have used every tactic possible, and these members refused to budge. They need our help. Please donate to support these members who are taking on a more significant fight than just Southern California Amazon. They are fighting for all workers in Amazon facilities nationwide to organize for a better future and BECOME TEAMSTERS! Your donations will go towards bridging the gap of lost wages during a strike against Amazon for better working conditions. Every penny helps. Do not be embarrassed to donate as little as $1. It helps.

Follow this link to donate by secure Act Blue: teamsters853.net/AmazonDonation

or Donate by Secure Act Blue by scanning this code and donating.

In Union,
Steve Beck  
Secretary-Treasurer
Teamsters Local 853

An ask from Teamsters 853 Leadership. Every penny helps these Amazon Members. Do not be embarrassed to donate as little as $1. It helps. Read More »

DHL in Sunnyvale Rally Big to Support DHL CVG workers in Ohio and Kentucky

In a world where Corporations spend huge amounts of money and time to aggressively prevent workers from unionizing, Unions have a secret weapon. The truth. The truth that Unions provide better wages, benefits, working conditions, and safety for workers in just about every industry across the Country.

But Unions don’t have the millions to go dollar for dollar against these union busters. But we do have the ability to tell the truth, spoken by those who know: the workers who do the jobs.

That’s exactly what DHL workers in Sunnyvale did yesterday at a rally to support over 1000 non-union DHL workers in Ohio and Kentucky who have an upcoming union vote.

When we say that Teamsters 853 members need to be involved in the Union process, this is what we mean. Simply hearing from members that wear the same DHL uniform that Union is better for their future will give those workers the confidence they need to vote UNION YES!

The below messages were sent to those 1000+ members.

Thank you, DHL Sunnyvale, for stepping up for these workers.

DHL in Sunnyvale Rally Big to Support DHL CVG workers in Ohio and Kentucky Read More »

DHL Day of Action for Sisters & Brothers in Cincinnati Ohio/Northern Kentucky

Teamsters 853 Sisters and Brothers,

Over 1000 workers will soon vote in a union election at DHL Express’ biggest international package hub in the US. DHL Express managers have increased pressure on these workers with repeated acts of intimidation, threats, and retaliation.

As their election date draws near, these workers need your support to know that Teamsters everywhere have their backs, and that a better future is within their grasp.

Teamsters Local 853 will be participating by having a day of action Wednesday the 19th at 7:30am at the DHL PAO station in Sunnyvale. We will be bringing the barbecue and making breakfast burritos for members attending.

Please consider putting this in your schedule and support the 1000+ members who are in this fight.

DHL Day of Action for Sisters & Brothers in Cincinnati Ohio/Northern Kentucky Read More »

UNFI Drivers Bust the Union Buster’s Lies Being told at Performance Food Group(PFG)

Performance Food Group drivers in Gilroy. Your vote is on April 6th. We understand that your company has hired some professional union busters to come in and create doubt and fear in your minds that a Union will not benefit you.

Performance Food Group nationally is extremely anti-Union and will never give you a fair deal as long as they hold all the cards. Without a Union, you are divided and conquerable. It’s an old strategy that works, to divide and conquer. In a Union, we have power because we speak with one voice undivided.

Don’t believe the union-busting hype! Vote to unionize and you will be securing a better future for you and your family.

We heard the Union Busters claim that UNFI in Gilroy was unhappy with their Union. Well, we asked the UNFI drivers.

Who do you trust?

Are you happy with your Teamsters Contract?
A message from UNFI to the Union Busters at PFG
Union Members Have a voice and are protected

UNFI Drivers Bust the Union Buster’s Lies Being told at Performance Food Group(PFG) Read More »