Five hundred Mount Diablo Unified School District workers in the maintenance and operations unit have chosen to join Teamsters Local 856, San Bruno, Calif., in an overwhelming vote today.

The vote to become Teamsters comes after months of stalled contract negotiations as the District has refused to address the issue of skyrocketing healthcare costs. 

“The District’s decision to freeze healthcare costs at 2010 levels has had an alarming impact on these workers – many have had to choose between buying groceries and having healthcare,” said Peter Finn, Secretary-Treasurer and Principal Officer of Teamsters Local 856.  

The maintenance and operations unit includes school bus drivers, custodians, food service workers, network technicians, as well as plumbers, electricians, painters, carpenters, groundskeepers, and other classifications working out of the maintenance department.

“We drive children to school, prepare their meals, and make sure they have a clean, safe environment in which to learn,” said Noven Feria, a custodian lead worker for the District. “We deserve to be able to take care of our families too and not have to choose between food and healthcare,” he said.

“It’s time for Mount Diablo to take care of the workers who take care of our children,” Finn said. “We are committed and prepared to do whatever it takes to demand fairness at the bargaining table.”

Founded in 1949, Teamsters Local 856 represents 8,000 hardworking members in the San Francisco Bay Area, North Bay, Sacramento, and Central Valley communities.

• Share on Facebook
• Share on Twitter
• Share via email