Sunnyvale, CA – December 28 , 2024 – On December 5, the 62-member bargaining unit at Specialty Solid Waste & Recycling has overwhelmingly ratified a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) that marks a significant milestone. For the first four years, the agreement aligns the unit with the Santa Clara County/South Bay Region Area economic package, culminating in the final year by setting the standard for the region. Beyond the economic benefits, members will now enjoy Juneteenth as a paid thirteenth holiday and gain from substantial language improvements addressing key membership concerns.
This dedicated unit provides essential solid waste and recycling services to the City of Sunnyvale, serving residential, multi-family, and commercial accounts. In addition to regular waste collection, they handle bulky item pickups, yard waste, and food scrap recycling, ensuring the community’s waste management needs are met efficiently and sustainably.
“The members at Specialty Solid Waste & Recycling were well-informed and understood their value in this industry. They were unwilling to settle for less,” said Sergio Arranaga, Business Representative and Lead Negotiator. “We delivered a contract that not only met industry standards but also improved working conditions for this unit. The overwhelming ‘yes’ vote to approve the tentative agreement speaks volumes.”
Arranaga credited much of the success to the dedication of the elected negotiation committee, which included Shop Steward Tim O’Connor, a member for over 10 years, and Raymond Loya, a veteran with more than two decades of service and experience on previous bargaining committees.
“Tim O’Connor and Raymond Loya were essential in keeping us informed about day-to-day issues and ensuring the demands of the unit were effectively conveyed,” Arranaga said. “This was critical to addressing the concerns affecting this unit.”
Reflecting on his experience, O’Connor shared, “This was my first time on a contract committee, and I was very impressed by the process. Sergio systematically took our input and crafted a strong proposal that positioned us well at the bargaining table.
“Specialty Management approached negotiations in good faith and showed a willingness to move quickly. Although there were a few ‘testy’ moments, progress was consistent. Sergio handled challenges decisively and effectively.
“As a team, we produced a contract I am proud of. All of our top requests were met or exceeded. In comparison, our last two contracts took until the summer to finalize. I’m excited to start the year with a fresh agreement,” O’Connor concluded.
This newly ratified CBA is a testament to the unity, determination, and resilience of the Specialty Solid Waste & Recycling members and their leadership.
Chartered on October 8, 1936, Teamsters Local 350 represents members throughout San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara and San Benito Counties who work in the public sector, the solid waste and recycling industry, the laundry industry, and other various trades.
Specialty Solid Waste & Recycling Ratifies New Collective Bargaining Agreement 12/28/24
Sunnyvale, CA – December 28 , 2024 – On December 5, the 62-member bargaining unit at Specialty Solid Waste & Recycling has overwhelmingly ratified a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) that marks a significant milestone. For the first four years, the agreement aligns the unit with the Santa Clara County/South Bay Region Area economic package, culminating in the final year by setting the standard for the region. Beyond the economic benefits, members will now enjoy Juneteenth as a paid thirteenth holiday and gain from substantial language improvements addressing key membership concerns.
This dedicated unit provides essential solid waste and recycling services to the City of Sunnyvale, serving residential, multi-family, and commercial accounts. In addition to regular waste collection, they handle bulky item pickups, yard waste, and food scrap recycling, ensuring the community’s waste management needs are met efficiently and sustainably.
“The members at Specialty Solid Waste & Recycling were well-informed and understood their value in this industry. They were unwilling to settle for less,” said Sergio Arranaga, Business Representative and Lead Negotiator. “We delivered a contract that not only met industry standards but also improved working conditions for this unit. The overwhelming ‘yes’ vote to approve the tentative agreement speaks volumes.”
Arranaga credited much of the success to the dedication of the elected negotiation committee, which included Shop Steward Tim O’Connor, a member for over 10 years, and Raymond Loya, a veteran with more than two decades of service and experience on previous bargaining committees.
“Tim O’Connor and Raymond Loya were essential in keeping us informed about day-to-day issues and ensuring the demands of the unit were effectively conveyed,” Arranaga said. “This was critical to addressing the concerns affecting this unit.”
Reflecting on his experience, O’Connor shared, “This was my first time on a contract committee, and I was very impressed by the process. Sergio systematically took our input and crafted a strong proposal that positioned us well at the bargaining table.
“Specialty Management approached negotiations in good faith and showed a willingness to move quickly. Although there were a few ‘testy’ moments, progress was consistent. Sergio handled challenges decisively and effectively.
“As a team, we produced a contract I am proud of. All of our top requests were met or exceeded. In comparison, our last two contracts took until the summer to finalize. I’m excited to start the year with a fresh agreement,” O’Connor concluded.
This newly ratified CBA is a testament to the unity, determination, and resilience of the Specialty Solid Waste & Recycling members and their leadership.
Chartered on October 8, 1936, Teamsters Local 350 represents members throughout San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara and San Benito Counties who work in the public sector, the solid waste and recycling industry, the laundry industry, and other various trades.
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