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Ridwell Unanimously Ratify New 3-Year Contract!

September 16, 2024 Robert Sandoval 0 Comments

Ridwell Unanimously Ratify New 3-Year Contract!

September 16, 2024

On September 13, 2024, Teamsters at the 19-person Bay Area Ridwell bargaining unit unanimously ratified their first-ever collective bargaining agreement. Ridwell, Inc., a recycling start-up serving several counties within the San Francisco Bay Area, negotiated a three-year agreement that includes substantial wage increases, enhanced worker protections, faster benefits accrual, and employee stock options. Additionally, the agreement ensures workers will have a significant voice on the job.

This ratification follows similar first-contract victories in Seattle and Portland.

‘I reached out to a few unions to find the best fit,’ said Blaine Sveine, newly elected Shop Steward and Bargaining Committee member. ‘After a long conversation with Robert Sandoval, President of Local 350, I quickly realized that the Teamsters were the right choice.’

On February 13, 2024, Ridwell’s workers, including drivers and warehouse staff, voted unanimously to join Teamsters Local 350. Negotiations began in April after a proposal meeting on February 23, and the final contract surpassed workers’ expectations.

‘Robert Sandoval was excellent during negotiations, and I learned a lot from him. I honestly don’t think anyone else could have secured such a strong contract for us,’ Sveine said. ‘By joining the Teamsters, this contract will serve as a constant reminder to Ridwell that those who do the work are vital to the company. We are not machines; we are people, and together we cannot be ignored.’

President Robert Sandoval echoed this sentiment: ‘All workers deserve the right to unionize and be treated fairly. I am proud of the work we accomplished here and look forward to building on these achievements for this amazing group of members.’

Chartered on October 8, 1936, Teamsters Local 350 represents members throughout the Bay Area who work in the public sector, the solid waste and recycling industry, the laundry industry, and other various trades. For more information, visit teamsters350.com/.