Today more than 500 leaders and activists from hundreds of California unions will come together in Sacramento for Labor’s 2015 Joint Legislative Conference, hosted by the California Labor Federation and the State Building and Construction Trades Council. The theme of the conference this year is “Working People Standing Together Changing Lives”.

The annual conference gives union activists from all across the state the chance to get involved in Labor’s policy-making by learning about and weighing in on our 2015 legislative agenda, hearing from key elected officials and engaging directly with legislators at the Capitol during legislative visits on Tuesday.

The two-day conference will kick off with speeches and special appearances from Legislative leaders including Senate President Pro Kevin de Leon, Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins, Senate Labor Committee Chair Tony Mendoza and Assembly Labor Committee Chair Roger Hernandez. Attorney General Kamala Harris and Honorable George Miller will be the featured speakers during the lunch program.  Going with the theme this year, the conference program will also feature workers telling the story of how standing with their fellow workers has changed their lives. Expect to be inspired!

The conference briefings today will highlight the series of bills that California Labor is sponsoring this year. Protecting workers and employers from rising healthcare costs, protecting workers their concerns from retaliation, expanding access to childcare and early education are just some of Labor’s priorities in 2015.

On Tuesday, all 500 attendees will be participating in our legislative Lobby Day – a unique opportunity for individuals to meet with their legislators face-to-face and express their support for legislation that will protect workers and rebuild the middle class.

Can’t make it to Sacramento? Fret not! For up-to-the-minute news and highlights from the conference, you can follow us on Twitter @CaliforniaLabor and our conference hashtag #CALabor15!