City and County of San Francisco Building Inspectors Mark Wahls (left) and Ed Donnelly (right).

Teamsters 856 is now proud to include sixty-four City & County of San Francisco Building Inspectors among its membership.

“It’s a whole new beginning for us,” said Building Inspector Ed Donnelly, who’s been with the City for nine years.

After previously bargaining with the City as an independent association, the group recognized the need to align themselves with a strong union and professional negotiators.

“Our specialty is building inspection, not contract negotiations,” said Donnelly. “Now that we’re Teamsters, we have experienced negotiators on our side who will lead us through the complexities of bargaining and provide strong representation,” he said.

Local 856’s newest members work inside the planning department as well as out in the field and are responsible for structural, building, and mechanical compliance for all new construction in the City, from residential kitchen remodels to the towering high rises that shape the City’s skyline.

“It’s a team effort,” Mark Wahls, a senior building inspector explained. “It’s imperative that we work together in order to catch problems as soon as possible to mitigate issues down the line.”

“We’re looking forward to working with Teamsters 856,” said Donnelly. “Our whole group is really excited.”