Around the Locals

December 2004 - January 2005

Teamster elected to Watsonville City Council

Congratulations to Local 890 Business Agent Oscar Rios for getting elected to serve on the Watsonville City Council in November. Rios had been the first Latino mayor of Watsonville in the 1990s, but was term-limited out after serving two terms. “I’m glad to be back on the council to represent the interests of working people in Watsonville,” Rios said.

Local 890 settles tough contracts for salad industry

After turning down two contract proposals from Dole, 1,800 Local 890 members who work in the package salad plants in Yuma, AZ and Soledad, finally ratified their contract by a 9-1 margin. Following the Dole settlement, River Ranch, with locations in Salinas and El Centro, came up with a proposal that their 700 employees could ratify as well. “This is a new industry that didn’t exist 15 years ago,” says Local 890 Business Agent Mike Johnston. “This industry grew out of the fields, so it’s traditionally very low paying. It’s also half union and half non-union, and fiercely competitive. Our goal was to get real wage improvements, along with decent health insurance and retirement funds.” Contracts at both companies are for four years. The employees will get wage increases of 5% the first year and 3% in each of the subsequent years, with much more for some workers. Dole made some dramatic improvements in health coverage, adding a good dental plan.

San Jose adjusts rates

Local 350 scored a great victory in San Jose when they successfully convinced Mayor Ron Gonzalez and the City Council to authorize an increase of approximately $12 million to California Waste Solutions in order to settle a five year agreement for the Teamsters who work at that company. “This was the first time the City readjusted rates after the bid was completed,” says Secretary- Treasurer Robert Morales. “We were having difficulties negotiating this agreement because the employer
had won a low-bid franchise deal with the City and could not afford to pay our members prevailing wages and benefits,”
says Morales. It took over a year for Local 350 officers to accomplish this task.

Victory over Sunset

Local 350 won a significant arbitration at Sunset Scavenger Company in San Francisco in October. In early 2003, the employer refused to return member Juan De La Cruz back to work after an injury on the job. The employer had two attorneys and two doctors at the arbitration hearing. With the help of Attorney Duane Beeson, the union prevailed and De La Cruz
won back pay for the 18 months with all of his seniority and benefits. De La Cruz is now back to work.

Election victory

The Teamsters scored a winning election in San Francisco when six of the seven Teamster-endorsed candidates
won election to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors last month. “I must recognize the members of Locals 278, 350 and other locals who worked so hard on these elections,” said Local 3 5 0 ’s Robert Morales. “Having good people in office makes our work easier.”

Progress is Teamster

In September, 80 counselors at the Progress Foundation, a San Francisco mental health services provider, overwhelmingly
chose representation by Local 85. The part-time “relief” counselors provide mental health services in a residential setting.
“These workers face many unique issues. We welcome them to our Local,” says Local 85 Secretary-Treasurer Van Beane.

Cab drivers force Port to back off limo deal

A delegation of Oakland airport taxicab drivers forced the Port of Oakland to delay plans to allow a single limousine service
to operate from the curb at the Oakland airport. This would displace Local 70 members from current facilities, and cause
unfair competition with cab service. Members of the Local 70-affiliated East Bay Taxi Drivers’ Association appeared at the November 16 Oakland Port Commission meeting to protest a proposal to give monopoly status to one limousine service at the airport. After hearing testimony from about 10 drivers, the Commissioners voted unanimously to take another look at the contract. “I think we really surprised the commissioners,” said Local 70 Secretary - Treasurer Chuck Mack.“They got the
message.”