TEAMSTERS HALT WAYMO IN SAN FRANCISCO
The Californer/10241909

SAN FRANCISCO, May 26, 2023 ~ The San Francisco Board of Supervisors has unanimously voted to stop the expansion of autonomous carmaker Waymo following a zoning appeal victory for the Teamsters Union. The board agreed with the union's claim that the company had not been forthright in its application to alter the use of a large distribution center in the city's industrial area.

Tony Delorio, Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 665, said: "AV companies such as Waymo threaten the livelihood of Teamster members who are employed in the expanding area of parcel delivery. Waymo's model is to eliminate working package car drivers entirely, and the work that remains would be relegated to minimum-wage sorting jobs. Their race-to-the-bottom plan was stopped with this vote."

The hearing uncovered inconsistencies in Waymo's initial zoning application, as well as newly discovered violations of municipal transit policy. The company told the Board of Supervisors that it had no intention of engaging in parcel delivery at the hearing, but this was refuted when video evidence provided by Teamsters showed Waymo leadership bragging about bringing parcel delivery to the city.

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John Bouchard, Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 350, said: "This company clearly has credibility issues. Nobody came to the microphone to support sending fleets of driverless vehicles onto city streets with the end goal of job elimination. The general public is not on the side of these AV companies – in San Francisco or anywhere else."

The hearing at City Hall was packed with rank-and-file Teamsters who stood and thanked elected officials as it concluded. Representatives from Teamsters Locals 315, 350, 665, 853, 856, 2010 and 2785 were present at the hearing.

Teamsters Local 665 represents over 5,000 members throughout Bay Area in waste management, transportation and other industries.

The victory for Teamsters Union effectively stopped Waymo's expansion plans in San Francisco and serves as a reminder that AV companies must be held accountable for their actions and intentions when applying for zoning changes or other permits.

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