Local 853 History
Local 853 was founded in 1937 as a “General Warehouse” Local in the East Bay. The Local has grown to its present size of nearly 15,000 members throughout the Greater Bay Area and beyond, with offices in Oakland, San Jose, and Watsonville. The Local’s growth has come through aggressive organizing and by merging in smaller local unions. Here’s a timeline:
1937
Founding
Local 853 was formed as a “General Warehouse” Local and in its early years, Local 853 organized the inside workers at many of the companies where Local 70 represented the drivers. The first companies the Local organized were East Bay Restaurant Supply, Jorgenson Steel (now Earle M. Jorgenson), and Morton Salt. Soon the Local organized Lucky Stores, Mayfair Market, and other food distribution warehouses.
1950s
Local organizes Montgomery Ward
Though no longer in business, for many years, Montgomery Ward was the Local’s single biggest employer, with 3,000 members.
1970s
Organized Gillig – bus manufacturer
Now with over 500 members
1980s
Organizing heats up
A few of the companies organized include Len Martin (now Federated), Celotex (now Certainteed), Anixter, Price Club (now Costco).
1990s
Local 216 (Construction) merges
Local 226 (Dairy) merges
Local 291 (Construction) merges
Local 302 (Dairy) merges
Local 860 (Warehouse) merges
Local 109 (Liquor Sales) merges
More Organizing:
Southern Wine and Spirits and Youngs Market Valley are organized, making Local 853 the largest Liquor Industry Local Union in the west
2000s
GCC 583 (Printing Industry) merges
Local 78 (Misc.) merges
GCC 468 (Concessions) merges
Local 15 (Mailers) merges
Local 921 (Newspaper) merges
2010s
Tech Bus organizing
Brings in more than 800 new members
2020s
Local 287 (UPS and Misc.) merges
Expanding reach into San Jose and the South Bay
Local 912 (UPS and Misc.) merges
Expanding reach into Santa Cruz County
