Celebrating Women’s History Month: Q&A with Mary Gutierrez-Khopkar

by Rachel Warino

By Rachel Johnson

For our final Q&A celebrating women in the California labor movement to honor Women’s History Month, we sat down with Mary Gutierrez-Khopkar. With experience in labor, federal and state politics, Mary Gutierrez-Khopkar currently serves as Child Care Campaign Director for the largest union organization in California, the State Council of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU California,). SEIU California is the coordinating political body for over 17 SEIU locals throughout California representing over 700,000 school employees, child care providers, homecare workers, janitors, social workers, court employees, healthcare workers, and other service employees. In this capacity, Mary is responsible for leading strategy and implementation of one of the largest union organizing efforts in the country by trying to win collective bargaining rights with the state on behalf of a predominantly female workforce of over 60,000 family child care providers.

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This is who we’re standing with on April 1

by Rachel Warino

by Rachel Johnson

On Wednesday April 1st, all across the country, we will spread the news of the recent wage victory for Walmart employees and the message that we can’t stop until all workers are earning $15 and full time is an option for those who need it at Walmart. Just last month Walmart announced raises for 500,000 Walmart workers.  That’s $1 billion in money into Associates pockets! It’s a huge victory and a great start, but even with this raise many associates continue to struggle to support their families on low wages and too few hours.

That’s why workers are calling on Walmart to publicly commit to $15 an hour and access to full-time, consistent work. You can join them on April 1st.

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Celebrating Women’s History Month: Q&A with Nichole Rice

by Rachel Warino

by Rachel Johnson

Continuing our Women in the Labor Movement series to celebrate Women’s History Month, we’re spotlighting a young leader in the California labor movement: Nichole Trujillo Rice. Nichole Trujillo Rice currently serves as district legislative representative for UFCW 8-Golden State and Secretary-Treasurer of the San Joaquin-Calaveras Counties Central Labor Council.

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AB 32 Supports Clean Environment, Good Jobs and Safer Workplaces

by Steve Smith

There’s an undeniable link between workers’ rights and environmental protections. It’s pretty difficult to work safely if environmental standards don’t exist to prevent the pollution of air and water in our communities. That’s why unions steadfastly support California’s landmark environmental climate change law, AB 32. In an op-ed in the San Bernardino Sun last week, Laura Reynolds of the Communications Workers of America and Fernando Losada of the California Nurses Association write about the importance of safeguarding and expanding AB 32 so we can all live and work in safe, healthy communities in the future.

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Amazing But True: This Job-Killing Train Wreck

by Art Pulaski

, California Labor Federation Executive Secretary-Treasurer

It’s a big secret.  That’s just how the biggest corporations like it. And they sure don’t want any light shined on their secret deals.

That’s why their lobbyists – and the politicians they fund – are pushing “fast track” legislation to hide the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) from the light of day. Remember NAFTA? That was also negotiated in secret. The TPP free-trade deal is NAFTA on steroids. It’s the biggest one yet covering the countries on all sides if the Pacific Ocean.  It is very bad news for our jobs.

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Celebrating Women’s History Month: Q&A with Shelley Kessler

by Rachel Warino

by Rachel Johnson

In honor of Women’s History Month, we are honoring women leaders in the California Labor Movement. Today I sat down with Shelley Kessler, a pillar of the labor movement in California. Shelley got started in the union movement in a male-dominated industry and has led the charge advocating for safety in the workplace. As head of the San Mateo Country Central Labor Council, Kessler represents 110 affiliated local unions and over 70,000 working member families. She has been at the Labor Council for 29 years, first as the political director. She also currently serves as a Vice President of the California State Labor Federation and an IAM Delegate to the AFL-CIO.

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Meet the caregivers who are standing up for a living wage, dignity

by Margitte Kristjansson

and Allison Padgett

It is inconceivable but true: in 2015 there are workers in America that don’t have the right to a minimum wage.

What’s worse, these workers are responsible for taking care of the most important people in our lives—our grandparents, parents, friends, and loved ones who require in-home support to stay safe and healthy at home. And thanks in part to our aging baby boomers, homecare is the fastest-growing occupation in America.

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