Teamsters Local 856 members of West Contra Costa County Unified School District (WCCUSD) have overwhelmingly ratified a new two-year contract that includes significant wage increases and market rate adjustments for overlooked classifications to combat high vacancy rates.  

The victory comes after over six months of grueling negotiations, which included numerous actions, including a rally at the WCCUSD Board of Education meeting, where large crowds of WCCUSD members showed up in full Teamster colors, demanding a fair contract. 

“We could not have reached this achievement without the consistent input and support of every member who attended our steering committee meetings, participated in our actions, and let their voice be heard throughout the process,” said Peter Finn, Teamsters Local 856 Secretary-Treasurer. “This is a clear message to the public that when working people stand together, we can win against any odds.”   

As negotiations ramped up, members prepared for an all-out fight with escalating actions and a resounding vote to support a strike.

“We had to hold our ground in these negotiations and show how important we really are,” said Monica Pacini, bargaining team member and 21-year employee of WCCUSD. “You cannot hold a school and expect it to run smoothly without the office staff, custodians, lunch personnel, community workers, and special day class instructional aides, just to name a few.”

“I want to extend my gratitude to our rank-and-file bargaining team, steering committee, and the entire WCCUSD membership,” said Local 856 Representative Veronica Diaz, who led negotiations. “The meaningful gains we achieved were a direct result of their perseverance, dedication, and solidarity,” she said.

Teamsters Local 856 represents nearly 2,000 members at West Contra Costa County School District in paraprofessional, custodial, front office, food service, and various other areas that keep schools running for our community.