Press Releases
Teamsters California Kicks Off Wave of Action on Workers’ Priorities
Union to Begin Hosting Preliminary Endorsement Meetings Next Week
Press Contact: Matt McQuaid Phone: (771) 241-0015 Email: mmcquaid@teamster.org
Today, Teamsters Joint Councils 7 and 42 announced the launch of Teamsters California, a statewide public policy and member mobilization campaign to fight for good jobs, affordability for working families, and a future driven by workers rather than the greed of corporations seeking to replace jobs with artificial intelligence (AI).
“Working people’s sweat made us the largest economy in the world and our elected officials must never forget it,” said Peter Finn, Co-Chair of Teamsters California and President of Joint Council 7 in San Francisco. “From taking on Big Tech greed to demanding a future where working people can afford to raise their families, Teamsters California will lead the fight at the state capitol and the ballot box to advance core economic issues that are important to the everyday working people who power our state’s economy.”
Teamsters California’s first engagement of the 2026 cycle will be next week, when they will interview candidates for various offices throughout the state who are seeking the union’s endorsement — including those who are running in the highly-contested race to succeed California Gov. Gavin Newsom. During this meeting and an upcoming lobbying blitz, Teamsters California will be urging lawmakers and candidates to work with them on creating common sense regulation for the implementation of AI.
“We can create a California where there is both innovation and shared prosperity, or we can go further down the path of job elimination and the ensuing erosion of the great American middle class,” said Chris Griswold, Co-Chair of Teamsters California and President of Teamsters Joint Council 42 in Pomona, Calif. “We know which choice we’re making, and it’s incumbent upon our political leaders to join us in fighting for workers.” Teamsters California is the united voice of 250,000 workers across dozens of industries who power the state’s economy and communities every single day. For more information, go to teamstersca.org.