Serving Northern
California and Nevada

Local 853 People

How is the economy impacting your life, and does being a union member help?

Kirk Krause - Cemex “We’re watching our dollars and streamlining everything. A lot of people are getting laid off—the union is working to find solutions so it’s not as bad. It’s definitely better to have union representation.”	Phil Holzberger - Young’s Market “I’m going broke. My wife’s not working and we have more debt. There’s no work out there—there’s only so much the union can do if there’s no work..” Danilo Tobias
Narin Sen - Berkeley Farms, Hayward “I don’t even go shopping anymore! If there wasn’t a union, I’d be so stressed out. I know my job is more secure.”	Danilo Tobias - Young’s Market “Work is very slow. Some of my coworkers are unemployed. The union helps but it’s all about the economy.”
Kimo Chun - Certainteed “We’ve been getting less work hours. We work four days instead of six. The economy slows our pay and effects our benefits. The union has some programs that can help us.”	Robert Joaquin - Primesource Building Products “I’m high enough on the seniority list so I haven’t been laid off, but they do layoffs every other month. The cost of medical keeps going up. The union is the only way to bring America back to where it needs to be.”
Isidro Rodriguez - Anixter “My company has laid off three guys so far and I’m having a hard time keeping money in my pocket. The union helps because the layoffs are by seniority and not by favoritism.”	Beverly Johnson - Peerless Coffee “We’re in negotiations right now and not making headway. It’s a lean living lifestyle. Right now, we’re taking steps backward, and that’s where we’ll be when the economy turns around. The union helps bring people together and creates unity and solidarity.”

Reggie Easterling KRS
Reggie Easterling - KRS “The economy hasn’t effected me because the union has kept me employed.”Kimo Chun - Certainteed “We’ve been getting less work hours. We work four days instead of six. The economy slows our pay and effects our benefits. The union has some programs that can help us.”