Around the Locals
october/november 2005
Local 315
City of Hercules ratities first Teamster contract
Local 315 is proud to report that on July 25,
the approximately 75 City of Hercules employees ratified their first
Teamster contract by an overwhelming margin of 57 to 1. The agreement
covers employees in classifications from city clerk, administrative
assistants, child care instructors, parks and recreation employees,
maintenance department, building inspectors, and utility employees.
The three-year agreement provides for wage increases
in each year and is retroactive to July 2004. The union also made
improvements in vacation, holiday, longevity pay and their peer’s
pension plan including a grievance procedure and, most importantly,
providing these workers a voice in the work place.
Local 315 Secretary Treasurer Dale Robbins welcomes
these new members to the ranks of the Teamsters Union. Stressing
the union’s continued commitment both to organizing new members
and to those workers who have gained representation, Robbins credited
the Local’s President/Organizer Steve Gutierrez for successfully
organizing several new units over the last six years. “Our
record proves you can successfully win elections and get good contracts
if you target your campaigns and keep your credibility with the
workers who seek a voice in the workplace, and we’re going
to help them achieve that,” Robbins added.
Organizing victory at Reliable Trucking
The 120 employee drivers at Reliable Trucking voted in
August to be represented by Local 853. This is one of the last construction
related companies that utilizes more “employee” drivers
than owner-operators. Reliable drivers are dispatched out of Pleasanton,
but may be based in as many as eight locations in Northern California.
They deliver cement power, rock, aggregate, and construction related
products all over Northern California.
Every driver that Local 853 contacted recognized
the benefits of union representation, but many were unaware of,
or afraid to exercise their rights. However, more than 70% of the
drivers signed authorization cards to request representation by
the Local. Once the election period began, Local 853 involved members
from the Ready Mix industry as well as members of other unions who
come into daily contact with the Reliable drivers to discuss the
advantages of being represented by a union. The Local produced and
distributed to all potential voters a DVD that featured many members,
some of whom are Teamsters who formerly worked for Reliable.
The company hired an army of anti-union consultants
who specialize in breaking every NLRB statute. They threatened the
drivers with the loss of their jobs, promised them wage increases,
and tried to represent themselves as union officials.
When the votes were counted, Local 853 won.
Given the intense anti-union campaign, it was a victory for the
persistence of the Reliable drivers. A number of unfair labor charges,
objections and challenges still need to be resolved before bargaining
can begin on behalf of the Reliable drivers.
Local 853 Business Agent Stu Helfer and organizer
Jesse Casqueiro spearheaded the campaign. Local 137 also lent invaluable
help to the drive.
“We believe trucking companies can benefit
from the consistency and productivity of having their own drivers.
This victory and gaining a firsttime contract will strengthen our
ability to move forward to organize more construction related companies,”
said Local 853 Secretary-Treasurer Rome Aloise
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