August 5, 2020
Contact: Steve Smith 510-326-4644
ssmith@calaborfed.org

Federation Delegates Vote on Endorsements, Plan Fall Campaign at Virtual Convention

View Endorsements Here

OAKLAND — The California Labor Federation, representing 2.1 million union workers across the state, today endorsed candidates for state legislature and Congress and took positions on ballot measures, launching its most ambitious grassroots campaign to date, with more than 20,000 union volunteers working to get out the vote. The AFL-CIO endorsed Joe Biden in May.

In addition to traditional person-to-person contact on the phone, at the worksite and through email and text, the Federation will rely more heavily on new tactics and technology to reach voters safely during the pandemic. Among top priorities for delegates to the 2020 convention were defeating Prop 22, the Uber/Lyft funded measure to exempt gig companies from basic labor protections, and passing Prop 15 to ensure the rich pay their fair share to fund our schools and community services.

“The COVID-19 pandemic exposed inequality on an unprecedented scale,” said California Labor Federation Executive Secretary-Treasurer Art Pulaski. “Working people are ready to rise up this election to rebalance the economy and address the root causes of systemic injustice. Our tactics may change as a result of the health crisis, but the central focus on worker-led organizing remains our primary focus. Today we launch the largest get-out-the-vote effort in California labor’s history, with the stakes higher than they’ve ever been.”

The convention kicks off California Labor’s statewide mobilization for the November 3 election, in which union volunteers will spend nights and weekends connecting with union voters to support candidates and ballot measures that benefit working people. Volunteers will fan out across the state to oppose the corporate-funded Prop 22, which would erode worker protections by exempting multi-billion dollar corporations from longstanding labor law.

Endorsements are determined through a democratic process by which delegates to the California Labor Federation representing public and private sector unions vote to support candidates and ballot measures. Delegates also passed several resolutions on racial justice, committing to provide leadership in the fight against racism, police violence and systemic inequality.

For a complete list of primary endorsements visit California Labor Federation’s site here. 

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