SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.—After tech-shuttle drivers in San Francisco rejected a contract offer in mid-
August, the two companies involved began training strikebreaker drivers—even though Teamsters Local 853 members have not authorized a walkout. “This is really extraordinary, considering the members have not voted to strike,” Doug Bloch, political director of Teamsters Joint Council 7, told the San Francisco Examiner. Local 853 had sought that the 600 drivers it represents at WeDriveU and Hallcon Transport get pensions instead of a 401(k) plan, and the rejected contract would have just raised company 401(k) contributions. The two companies responded in late August by bringing in 50 to 60 non-union drivers who wore yellow jackets with the words “strike relief.” “Knowing that thousands of employees rely on us for their ride to work, we have begun to train qualified replacement drivers,” WeDriveU chief operating officer Tim Wayland said, adding that they would not be used if “our employees agree to the proposed contract.” The Teamsters say that violates “labor harmony” provisions in the city’s shuttle-licensing regulations. “Cost is not the question here,” Bloch said, noting that the two companies drive employees of Facebook, Tesla, Amazon, Electronic Arts, LinkedIn, and Apple. Read more
