856 Public Policy Coordinator Malia Vella (far left), fields questions about stopping the abuses of the so-called “sharing” economy on October 7, 2015.

On Wednesday, October 7th, the California Labor Fed hosted a 38-member labor delegation from France in San Leandro. Teamsters 856 Public Policy Coordinator Malia Vella served on a panel with the Secretary-Treasurer of the State Fed, Art Pulaski, and the Research Director of the UC Berkeley Labor Center, Carol Zabin, to lead the discussion on what labor can and is doing to fight against the so-called “Sharing Economy.”

The French delegation, which included labor leaders, government officials, and members of the foreign press, was keen on discussing the Teamsters’ use of the state and local legislative processes, ballot measures, organizing campaigns, member education tools, and support of pending litigation and agency challenges to fight off attacks on workers.

The delegation was particularly impressed by Teamsters 856’s work to get the real numbers and analyze the public data to inform our fight against companies like Uber and Airbnb and with the Local’s work to re-direct the public conversation.