Throughout history, women have taken prominent roles in the labor movement to strengthen their unions but have been underrepresented in leadership. That’s changing. This month we are celebrating Women’s History Month by highlighting some of the female trailblazers across California who are making an impact across the labor movement, and what they are doing to empower California workers.

Liz Ortega, the Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Alameda Labor Council, has been in the labor movement for over two decades leading the fight for her community by working to create opportunities for the most vulnerable. Now, Ortega is blazing her way into a statewide spotlight, running for Alameda County’s Assembly seat in 2022.

Her platform is reflective of her commitment both to the issues in her community and the labor movement.

“I want to bring back that dream, the one that my parents’ risked their lives for, I believe that workers should have a voice. If you don’t have a worker’s perspective, then we don’t get what we’re asking for, we don’t get prioritized. That is why I am running… I want to make sure we have good union jobs for this county.”