On Day Two of the 2026 Teamsters Public Services and Health Care Division conference, attendees heard from California Assemblymember Liz Ortega, Local 481 Secretary-Treasurer Erin Borgardt and Teamsters leaders on internal organizing. Following the morning session, hundreds of Teamsters rallied at San Diego State University in support of members of Teamsters Local 2010 throughout the California State University (CSU) system to demand that university leadership deliver on the raises established in their collective bargaining agreement. The conference will conclude this afternoon after the final round of workshop sessions.

The Teamsters Public Services and Health Care Division is the fastest growing division within the Teamsters. In the last two years alone, the Teamsters Public Services and Health Care Division has organized more than 20,000 new workers into North America’s strongest union. With 270,000 members, the Teamsters Public Services and Health Care Division is laser focused on the goal of 300,000 members.

This morning, Teamsters General Secretary-Treasurer Fred Zuckerman joined Public Services and Health Care Division Director Peter Finn in welcoming hundreds of business agents, officers, and rank-and-file Teamsters to the annual division conference in San Diego, California. Throughout the day, attendees heard from division representatives, International Union staff and rank-and-file Teamsters about winning strong contracts in health care, ongoing organizing campaigns and recent successes. "When you look at what we've accomplished in the Teamsters Public Services and Health Care Division over the last four-and-a-half years, the results speak for themselves," Zuckerman said. "We’re organizing new members in record numbers and winning the strongest contracts in the country — and most importantly, we’re delivering for our members."

Hundreds of public sector Teamsters were forced to strike after Orange County failed to offer a new contract. These workers provide critical services — like maintaining our parks, animal shelters, roads, and first responder vehicles — for more than three million country residents. By not offering Teamsters a new contract, the Orange County Board of Supervisors left workers with no choice but to hit the picket line. The responsibility to end this strike rests squarely on the shoulders of the Board of Supervisors.

Public sector Teamsters are the backbone of communities nationwide. Bright and early this morning, Teamsters General President Sean M. O'Brien and General Secretary-Treasurer Fred Zuckerman visited with rank-and-filers in the utilities department for the City of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Throughout the city of Ft. Lauderdale, Teamsters Local 769 represents 1,000 public servants who inspect buildings, work in public safety, maintain water and sewers, and more. "Cities like Ft. Lauderdale don't run without the hard work of Teamsters," O'Brien said. "In Florida, public sector workers are under attack by anti-union politicians who think passing legislation targeting workers and requiring them to recertify their union every year is a good use of taxpayer dollars. Now, more than ever, the Teamsters are fighting back against anti-worker attacks in Florida and beyond to protect our public and private sector workers and their hard-earned benefits."

On September 11, 2001, hundreds of Teamsters in New York City answered our nation's call to service. Our members in the construction trades immediately got to work cleaning up Ground Zero — 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for 9 months. After the debris was cleared, Teamsters stayed onsite and went to work rebuilding the World Trade Center. Today we honor our Local 282 members who have suffered serious illness linked to their exposure at the site for their courage, patriotism, and lasting contribution they made to rebuild New York City after one of our nation’s darkest hours.