San Bernardino County Public Employees Ratify Teamster Contract

San Bernardino, CA /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ - San Bernardino County employees, who are members of Teamsters Local 1932, ratified their first collective bargaining agreement yesterday. The agreement, ratified by over 80 percent of the votes cast, supported improvements in wages and benefits for the 11,000 workers who provide critical services to the residents of California's largest county.

"This is another big win for working families in Southern California," said Randy Cammack, President of Teamsters Joint Council 42 in Pomona, Calif. "The Teamsters are representing more public employees in the state every year due to our ability to negotiate strong contracts like the contract San Bernardino County public employees just voted in favor of."

"I voted yes for our contract because the Teamsters are looking out for my future," said Peter Lugo, a member of Local 1932 working at the Arrowhead Regional Medical Center. "I'm proud to be a Teamster."

Local 1932 represents employees working at hospitals, in public works, health services departments, correctional facilities and in dozens of other public positions throughout the county.

The three-and-half-year agreement calls for immediate increases to every member's wages, and it includes a schedule of further increases throughout the life of the contract. Additionally, there are incentives and differential payments offered for various credentials and training that are part of employees' jobs.

"The Teamster public sector bargaining model combines professional experience with member activism," said Michael Filler, Director of the Teamsters Public Services Division. "Clearly, the Ontario Convention Center rally in August sent a strong message that members were ready to fight for a better future, and this agreement is an important achievement for thousands of dedicated employees."

Teamsters Joint Council 42 is the parent body of 22 Teamster local unions in Southern California and other areas of the West, with more than 200,000 working Teamsters and retirees.

Founded in 1903, the Teamsters Union represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Visit www.teamster.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter @Teamsters and "like" us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/teamsters.