Illumin Holdings: Teamsters Local 665 Celebrates Historic Victory for Custodial Staff's Collective Bargaining
- Teamsters Local 665 celebrated custodial supervisors ratifying their first collective bargaining agreement, enhancing job protections and working conditions.
- The agreement empowers employees to bid on school sites and includes binding arbitration for dispute resolution.
- This milestone reinforces Teamsters Local 665's commitment to advocating for strong labor protections across its 5,000 members.
Teamsters Local 665 Celebrates Historic Collective Bargaining Success for Custodial Staff
On August 12, 2025, custodial supervisors at the Santa Rosa School District in California achieve a significant victory by unanimously ratifying their first collective bargaining agreement through Teamsters Local 665. This momentous occasion highlights the empowerment of workers who recognized their eligibility to join the union and actively pursued better working conditions. Tom Woods, a business agent with Teamsters Local 665, emphasizes the dedication exhibited by union members throughout this process, showcasing their commitment to securing a robust contract that addresses their needs.
The newly ratified agreement introduces several vital improvements for custodial supervisors, including enhanced job protections and additional holidays. It also allows employees the opportunity to bid on school sites—empowering them to have a say in their work environment—and establishes provisions for binding arbitration in the event of disputes. Local 665 shop steward Michael Stanford expresses pride in the collective effort to achieve this contract, noting the positive impact it will have on the working conditions and overall quality of life for custodial staff. This achievement stands as a testament to the union's dedication to advocating for better conditions and amplifying the voices of its members.
Teamsters Local 665 represents over 5,000 members across various industries within the Bay Area, making this ratification particularly significant for the union's broader mission. The successful bargaining effort not only marks a milestone for the custodial staff but also reinforces the union's commitment to ensuring that all its members benefit from strong labor protections. The contract sets a precedent that could inspire further negotiations among unionized workers facing similar challenges in securing their rights and improving their work environments.
In other developments, the Teamsters Union plans a picket outside the General Motors Flint Assembly Plant in Michigan on August 13. This demonstration aims to protest nonunion carhaul contractors undermining wages, benefits, and working conditions, which poses challenges to recent progress made under the Teamsters National Master Automobile Transporters Agreement (NMATA). The event underscores the urgency of the upcoming negotiations, as workers seek a robust new contract that enhances industry standards and safeguards their rights.
As labor movements gain momentum across various sectors, the ratification of this collective bargaining agreement by custodial supervisors stands as a beacon of hope for workers advocating for their rights. The progress made by Teamsters Local 665 could serve as an inspiration for other unions striving to achieve similar successes in their respective industries.