SP+ Parking Driver Foster Frimpong Sent Back to Work with full Backpay:
Foster Frimpong, an SP+ driver and Local 853 member at the rental car center at the Oakland Airport, was recently sent back to work […]
A Bittersweet Day at Teamsters Local 853 – Business Agent Lennie Kuhls Retires After 57 Years.
Business agent Lennie Kuhls is retiring after a whopping 57-year career in Union representation. Lennie began her union career on September 16, 1968, at […]
Yellow Freight Bankruptcy Update – August 15th, 2025
Yellow Freight Teamsters Members, here is the latest update published by the IBT regarding the bankruptcy.
IBT & JC7 Union Organizers Team Up to Deliver a Great Win for Teamsters 853 Bus Drivers at First Student
👉 Last month, Teamsters Local 853 welcomed a new group of 40 bus drivers from a company called First Student out of San Leandro, […]
First Student Votes to Join Teamsters Local 853
In a final vote today, August 19th, this group of 40 drivers from First Student has chosen to join the ranks of Teamsters Local […]
VISTAR Ratified Super First Contract
VISTAR, one of the Teamsters 853’s new groups, which had one of the strongest Union Drives in recent history, has proven that a strong […]
Stonewalled, bad faith, working against their own employees – This is why this new group of Teamsters is on Strike Against Westlake
Every once and a while, a Union sees a group that is so tight, so unified, that they are already acting like a Union, […]
Important Yellow Update – Check Your Mail for Claims Paperwork Filing
On Friday, June 27, former employees of Yellow who filed individual proofs of claim outside of TNFINC’s filing were mailed the attached notice. Each […]
Local 853 Saves Teamsters Jobs at Golf Courses in San Francisco
In a multi-month effort, Local 853, in coordination with the SF Building Trades Council, saved sixty jobs from privatization at San Francisco’s city golf […]
DRIVE Visits Martinellis – an important way you can support Labor in California and the United States
When you hear that DRIVE is stopping by your workplace, take notice. Last week Beatriz with DRIVE was at S Martinelli & Company, talking […]
Secretary-Treasurer and Principal Office Steve Beck Speaks in Arizona on the importance of the BreakThru Liquor Strike
Teamsters Local 853 Secretary-Treasurer and Principal Office Steve Beck was in Arizona speaking to Teamsters Local 104 on the importance of extending the Breakthru […]
Douglas Parking in Stanford ready to start negotiations
Teamsters Local 853 members from Douglas Parking in Stanford met today for a proposal meeting and selection of a negotiating committee. The negotiating committee […]
MV Transportation lays groundwork for strong success in their transition to TransDev
MV transportation members met to discuss their upcoming transition to Transdev. This group is excited to move to a new company and contract, where […]
50 Years plus of experiece between two leaders inspires confidence to move aggressively forward
Meet Chief Stewards Tayde Rodriguez and Tony Montano at MV Transportation. Together, they have over 50 years of combined experience in the Paratransit industry. […]
Another fun time at the JC7 annual ball game
The 2025 JC7 Ballgame was another success this year. A 100% ticket sellout event. It was a perfect day, blue skys and great temperatures. […]
Matagrano Votes Overwhelmingly to Ratify New 4-Year Contract
Congratulations to all of the members at Matagrano, a family-owned distributor of Anheuser-Busch products. This group of 220 Teamster 853 members secured the best […]
California Teamsters Hispanic Caucus Scholarships Available
CALIFORNIA TEAMSTERS HISPANIC CAUCUS WILL AWARD SCHOLARSHIPS TO … Deserving High School Seniors Graduating this year, Who are: A Daughter or Son of an active […]
Business Agent training focuses on involving more and more members to strengthen our Union
Teamsters Local 853 held a mandatory half-day training for all Business Agents. A shout out to IBT Strategic Campaign Coordinator and Teamster 853 Member, […]
The final chapter closes on ULP charges against Premier Recycling
When an organized group wins a ruling of Unfair Labor Practices(ULP) as the members at Premier Recycling did, by federal law, the company must […]
Ferguson HVAC Teamsters ratify contract at 100%
The members at Ferguson HVAC had something to celebrate last week as they finished contract negotiations with significant wage increases, significant pension increases, better […]
Teamsters Local 853 welcomes Center for Community Advocacy to our Teamster 853 Family
One of the incredible things about Teamsters Local 853 is its diversity. We have over 300 different companies that we contract with. There are […]
Join union workers for a fun day at the ballpark
Join your brothers and sisters in the labor movement for a great game in Oakland – A’s vs. Yankees on April 15. Contact the Alameda Building Trades Council (btca@btcalameda.org) or the Labor Council (xsanchez@alamedalabor.org) for details on how you can get tickets to this event.
Read MoreHoffa Scholarships still available to Member’s children and dependents
Every year the James R. Hoffa Memorial Scholarship Fund awards scholarships to qualified children and financial dependents of Teamster members. Academic scholarships range from $1,000 to $10,000 for high school seniors planning to attend a four-year college or university and Training/Vocational program awards of up to $2,000 for use at community colleges and trade schools. […]
Read MoreOakland zookeepers vote to join Teamsters
What happens when you have a motivated workforce, a solid organizing team, and connections with local politicians? The workers at the Oakland Zoo just found out when they voted on September 30 by a four-to-one margin to unionize. Teamsters Local 853 is proud to welcome the 55+ zookeepers at the Oakland Zoo and looks forward […]
Read More853 members elect new leadership
In December, Local 853 held its first contested election of officers in thirty years after ten “white ballots” (elections by acclamation). At the nominations meeting on November 7, two slates of candidates for office were nominated. From that moment, through to the final vote tally a month later, the two groups traversed the local and […]
Read MoreDrive-thru celebrates Local 853 members
In our largest drive-thru membership appreciation event yet, more than 800 members came by Local 853’s offices in Oakland (Oct. 29), San Jose, and Watsonville (Oct. 30). They filled out a card to enter the raffle and collected a Local 853 long-sleeved t-shirt. The Local has held this event since 1993, but until the pandemic […]
Read MoreEnlisting Facebook to help make Canon Business do the right thing
Getting a union is not easy, as the 50 workers who run the mail room for Meta, the parent company of Facebook, will attest. They work for a contractor called Canon Business Services. Back in the fall of 2021, they contacted Local 853 determined to gain union representation because, according to Business Rep Pablo Barrera, […]
Read MoreWinning JC7 Scholarship is a family affair
When Local 853 chose its winner of the 2022 Harry Polland/Bob Morales Joint Council 7 Scholarship, they didn’t realize how much that choice was a family affair. Nathan Sanchez, the winner, is the son of Paul Sanchez, who has worked at Southern Glaziers Wine and Spirits in Union City for almost 15 years, the last […]
Read MoreGiving thanks to the union
There’s an old saying in the union world: 10% of the members take up 90% of the time of business reps. It’s always the squeaky wheel who gets the attention and not often does the union hear from members about the good job their doing. So, when Business Rep Stu Helfer opened his email and […]
Read MoreHallcon pays out big bucks
When Hallcon, a contractor that runs commuter shuttle buses for the tech industry, terminated a driver for falsification of records, the union fought back—and won! Hallcon had fired a member for not showing up for work one day, but the union disputed that very fact. The company had stopped having members use the electronic timeclock […]
Read MoreAB5 is the law of the land
On June 30, the Supreme Court refused to hear a case. As a result, AB5 is the law of the land. Huh??? By setting out a clear definition of who should be an “employee” and who can be an “independent contractor,” AB5 is the law written to rein in the growing “gig” economy. Local 853 […]
Read MoreSaving Watsonville Hospital (and more than 50 Teamster jobs)
Business Rep Steven Lua reports that in December, Watsonville Community Hospital filed for bankruptcy. If this, the only hospital in Watsonville, were to close, it would be devastating not only for the 55 Teamsters who work in the business department, but for the entire community. Lua and the Teamsters sprang into action. Working with Joint […]
Read MoreSurprise closure and quick action for workers at AB (Oakland)
Sadly, the big Anheuser Busch (AB) distribution facility in Oakland got sold and suddenly closed in July with minimal notice. Local 853 represented 113 drivers, warehouse workers, draft technicians, merchandisers, and salesmen at that facility. “We only had about two weeks\’ notice, which, besides being terrible for our members, didn’t even meet legal requirements,” says Business Agent […]
Read MoreTaking care of laid-off Amy\’s Kitchen workers
Teamsters Local 665 has been working to organize the workers of Amy’s Kitchen in Santa Rosa for many months. Unite HERE was working on an organizing drive with the San Jose group. Suddenly, on July 18, with no warning, the company closed the manufacturing operations at its San Jose facility effective immediately. Upon hearing the […]
Read MoreServing the members in Watsonville & Santa Cruz
On June 8 and July 6, Local 853 brought its barbeque to Watsonville and Santa Cruz literally to serve the members! The Local held BBQs at Watsonville Hospital, where about 24 members came out; the HA Rider bottling plant, where they fed 50 members, and at Driscoll’s (Fruit & Vegetable Growers, Packers & Shippers), which […]
Read MorePremier Recycling votes Union YES!
About 35 drivers who work for Premier Recycling in San Jose voted Union Yes in May. These drivers drop off and pick-up recycling bins at construction sites. “This was a dog fight,” says Business Rep Pablo Barrera. “The company brought three union busters to the worksite—and they’re still there. But we still won the election […]
Read MoreArgent Materials drivers organize and ratify first contract
The employees at Argent Materials in Oakland unanimously voted for union representation in November 2021 and in August 2022, their first contract was signed, sealed, and delivered. These workers are dump truck drivers who pick up broken-up concrete and bring it to a recycling yard and they deliver construction aggregate products. “Their first-time agreement includes […]
Read MoreSharpening pencils brings up First Student drivers\’ wages
The contract for the 60 school bus drivers at First Student in San Jose had expired in August 2020, but because COVID was hot and heavy, the union decided to do an indefinite extension. “We had no idea what was going on in the world,” says Business Rep Tracy Kelley. “Schools shut down in March […]
Read MoreHistoric wage increases at Pak N Save
The 175 employees at these two stores ratified their new five-year contract in June and will collect historic wage increases, while the union succeeded in eliminating some steps in the wage progression. “Our members do everything—from being head clerks to utility clerks to meat clerks—they were the ultimate essential workers,” says Business Rep Jonathan Pinney. […]
Read MoreHertz – Oakland Airport – Big boost in hard-hit industry
If you rent a car from Hertz at the Oakland Airport, likely it will have been serviced by Teamster members. Thirty Local 853 members work as Vehicle Service Attendants who wash and detail returned rentals, and Tire and Lube Mechanics who change the cars’ oil and tires, and do basic maintenance. These members and the […]
Read MoreStudent Transportation of America (STA) drivers to get more, faster
The 75 members at STA in San Jose ratified their new three-year contract in July. “In addition to getting substantial raises each year, they doubled their number of sick days, from the bare minimum of three up to six; and they squeezed what was a 10-year progression to achieve the top wage rate down to […]
Read MoreTech Bus Contract opened for 800 members
The master contract just opened for about 800 bus drivers who work at four companies (Hallcon, WeDriveYou, Compass, Mosaic) and shuttle employees to their offices in the Silicon Valley from across the Bay Area and the Valley. Their first meeting was in July, and many more are slated for September. The contract has been extended […]
Read MoreExperience brings results at Kellogg\’s
In 2021 and 2022, the workers at the Kellogg’s facilities in Nebraska, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Kansas had to go on strike for nearly three months to get a decent contract. When the contract at the Kellogg\’s Eggo Waffle facility in San Jose was due to expire in June, that recent history was all too […]
Read MoreGolden Brands – creative thinking gets bigger raise faster
Sometimes (or every time) the union has to get creative. And that just happened in the negotiations for a new contract for the 125 drivers, warehouse workers, and merchandisers at Golden Brands in San Jose. “We were working on a three-year contract,” says Business Rep Ray Torres. “The company gave us a dollar sum and […]
Read MoreUNFI unanimously pass new contract
The 37 drivers at UNFI in Gilroy unanimously ratified their new three-year contract in May. “They’re now making $11 more an hour than before they joined the union three years ago,” says Business Rep Ray Torres, who explained that these drivers deliver organic foods to Whole Foods, Trader Joe\’s, and other organic food markets. “We […]
Read MoreNice boost in early contract with Clear Channel Outdoor
When you pass a transit shelter in the East Bay, West Bay, or South Bay, do you ever wonder, “who put that ad up there?” The answer is Local 853 members who work for Clear Channel Outdoor. Our members fix and maintain the transit shelters for MUNI, AC Transit, and VTA. “It’s not an easy […]
Read MoreLocal 853 – Racking up the Successes
This is an exciting time for the labor movement. The kinds of companies that seemed out-of-reach to unions just a few years ago are suddenly growing a union presence—from the Starbucks’ baristas at 200 shops and counting, to firsts at Amazon (Staten Island), Trader Joe\’s (western Massachusetts), and REI (New York City). While every other […]
Read MoreParking/Shuttle Contracts: “We’re changing the industry.”
For too many years, the shuttle drivers and cashiers at area parking lots settled for too little, and new Business Rep Mike Fritz not only aims to change that — he already has. “We need to ensure that these members start getting paid what they’re worth—especially given the health hazards that so many of them […]
Read MoreTeamsters Stand in Solidarity
After a week-long strike, about 4,800 nurses with the independent union CRONA (Committee for Recognition Of Nursing Achievement) at Stanford Health Care and Stanford Children’s Health in Palo Alto, CA won a significant raise over three years. Not only did Senator Alex Padilla turn up on April 29 for a major rally to support the […]
Read MorePrinters\’ Pension Plan Saved By Biden Administration
It\’s not new news to hear that union multi-employer pension plans had been hit hard due to a combination of factors including changing industries and the 2008 stock market crash. While unions fought for years to get congress to support our plans as they had already supported single-employer plays, this effort had gone nowhere. Until […]
Read MoreThe Value of Voting
If you’re wondering why it’s important for Teamsters to get involved in politics, here are two reasons. Because of the Biden administration, the pension plan for about 1,000 of our members in the printing industry (formerly of GCC Local 583) has been saved and will not go insolvent as of next month. That’s because the […]
Read MoreBig wage increases for school bus drivers
The 50 Hayward Unified school bus drivers who work with special needs kids ratified a new contract with Storer in January and it’s the best these drivers have ever seen. “This was essentially a new contract,” explains Business Rep Tracy Kelley. Previously, Durham School Services held the contract with the Hayward schools. “But when Storer […]
Read MoreIt\’s scholarship time!
If you have a child who\’s graduating from high school and can use some cash for college or vocational school, you\’ll want to apply for a Joint Council 7 Harry Polland/Bob Morales scholarship. Applicants are eligible for scholarships when their parent or legal guardian is a member in good standing of Teamsters Local 853. Criteria […]
Read MoreTeamsters 853 Day at the Shark Tank
April 23 saw a huge turnout of Teamsters Local 853 members, friends, and family at the San Jose Shark Tank — there to watch the Sharks beat the Chicago Blackhawks by 4-1. The day started with a pre-game BBQ at the Local\’s San Jose office. Two lucky members won signed Sharks jerseys. If you\’re a […]
Read MoreTeamsters feed 550 Gillig members at annual BBQ
The Teamsters\’ annual barbecue at Gillig had to be a 2-day event (held on April 18 and 19), due to the large number of members who work at the Livermore-based bus manufacturer (over 550!) Business Reps Steve Beck and Scott Gonsalves trucked out the Local\’s barbecue and prepared hamburgers and hot dogs for as many […]
Read MoreMaster construction allocation settled
Business Rep and Chair of the Northern California Construction Committee Stu Helfer reports that the Northern California Teamsters Heavy, Highway, Building and Construction Committee settled their third-year allocation that increased wages and benefits by a total of $2.25 per hour. \”Over the 3-year life of this agreement, we saw wages increase by 11.67%; pension increase […]
Read MoreMembers at Kellogg\’s go into negotiations with a strike authorization in hand
By a vote of 44 to 1, the members who make all of the Eggo Waffles sold west of the Mississippi went into their contract negotiations with a strike authorization at the ready. The vote took place at a proposal meeting held on January 22 at Teamsters Local 853\’s San Jose office. \”We\’re tired of […]
Read MoreLong time coming, but master liquor agreement is a great deal
It may have taken over a year and a half, but the thousands of members across California who do sales for Southern Glazer Wine & Spirits & RNDC (formerly known as Young’s Market) ratified their richest contract to date. Local 853 alone has about 684 workers under this contract who received huge wage increases, full […]
Read MoreUnion gets 21-year UPS driver his job back
After working at UPS for 21 years, one member didn’t feel that he should have been fired for doing what other workers around him routinely did. And neither did his Business Rep, who took up the case and got him his job back. “They told me I couldn’t play music, even though we were allowed […]
Read MoreLucrative contract in cannabis industry
The 33 driver/warehouse workers at JDRC (formerly known as River Cannabis), with locations and deliveries to dispensaries across California, unanimously ratified their new three-year contract in January. \”The negotiations went well,\” says Business Rep Steve Beck. \”Things got tense at times, as all negotiations do, but calmer minds prevailed,\” Beck added, saying that this is a […]
Read MoreNew contract at Genesis is worth the fight
They say the third time is the charm, and for the members at Genesis Logistics, it took three contract offers before they finally ratified their new 18-month contract on February 16, 2022. Genesis Logistics is a Third-Party contractor that delivers to 7-11 stores from Fresno to Yuba City. Local 853 represents about 60 drivers and […]
Read MoreGreat contract at Henkel
The nine Teamsters who work at adhesive-manufacturer Henkel in Berkeley ratified their new four-year contract on February 15, and Business Rep Stu Helfer reports that it may be the best contract they\’ve ever had. While the company wanted to pull this group out of the Teamster health and welfare plan and move them to the […]
Read MoreWorking toward solutions
Every five years, an election is held for the leadership of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. When long-time president James P. Hoffa announced his retirement, that opened the door for a rousing election between two powerful slates that took place last October. The results were announced in mid-November, and Sean O’Brien, from Boston, takes the […]
Read MoreJoin Teamsters 853 at the Sharks game
All Teamsters Local 853 members are invited to join the union on April 23 for the Sharks vs. Blackhawks game at the SAP Center in San Jose. In addition to seeing the game, the ticket price includes some cool game-related raffles for items such as: 15 lower bowl premium seats; 2 signed jerseys; and 2-4 […]
Read MoreIntroducing kids to the Teamsters
On February 1, Business Rep Jesse Casqueiro brought the Teamster truck to the Assumption School in San Leandro for a \”Community Helpers Fair.\” The kids got a chance to look around the truck and learn about how they can become good community servants and the role that Teamsters play in supporting our communities.
Read MoreLocal 853 members turn out to fight UPS part-timer pay cuts
On February 23, over 500 Teamsters from across Northern and Central California came together at UPS’ San Francisco building to protest the company\’s decision to slash wages by up to $6/hour for part-timers. The event was sponsored by the Nor Cal Teamster UPS Committee and Teamsters Joint Council 7. UPS workers and Teamster supporters came […]
Read MoreA new beginning
As I take over as Principal Officer of Local 853, having served as President of the Local for the last several years, I reflect on the brilliant leadership of Rome Aloise, who, as Secretary-Treasurer since 1992, worked to build this local into a powerhouse. He stands down now, but it will be difficult, if not […]
Read MoreMy final column
By Rome Aloise — By the end of January, I will no longer be Principal Officer of Local 853. These past 54 years as a Teamster, and 36 years serving as a Teamster official on the local, Joint Council, and International levels, have been an amazing ride. It has been the honor of my life […]
Read MoreLocal appreciates our members at 2-day event
Appreciating our members is something Local 853 has made every effort to do since 1993. This year was no exception, although like last year, the Membership Appreciation event was again a drive-thru affair due to the pandemic. But shaking things up this year, it was held on two mornings at two locations, Saturday, November 6 […]
Read MoreUPS members learn about the threat from Amazon—and what they can do about it
“Ten years ago, there were zero Amazon warehouses in California,” said Shaun Martinez, IBT, Strategic Research & Campaigns Department “Today, they’re the state’s largest employer.” Speaking at a training about Amazon for about 100 Local 853 UPS members at the San Jose Teamster office on November 13, Martinez reviewed Amazon’s growth, from bookseller to major […]
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