What’s next in the fight for caregivers.
This year, SEIU Local 2015 members have worked tirelessly to support family members and care recipients, during one of the worst disasters of our time. Our brave caregivers worked without adequate PPE, hazard pay, and paid sick days as the Covid-19 pandemic began to overtake local communities. However, they still showed up to work to provide critical care and support to our most vulnerable populations and made sacrifices for their own families. The pandemic further exposed racial and social inequities bringing on a reckoning in search of solutions that have been ignored for too long. Indeed, in the wake of the threats that came with the deadly virus, deeply seeded systemic racism was brought to the forefront as people took to the streets to protest with Black Lives Matter. Through it all, we had a Presidential election which our members turned out for in record numbers to fight for equality and a country that would bring people together. Together, they helped us elect Joe Biden and Kamala Harris to the White House, as well as Holly Mitchell and George Gascon in Los Angeles County, Joe Baca Jr. in San Bernardino County, Federal Glover in Contra Costa, and many more. They even rallied behind their own union brothers and sisters — helping SEIU 2015 members Flora Martinez in the Ontario-Montclair School District, Konstantine Anthony in Burbank, and Lissette Espinoza-Garnica in Redwood City win their races.
This election was one for equity, and for many, more than just policy and about taking action to unite rather than divide, and rid the country of racism, hate, and greed. As long term care workers represent a demographic largely affected by these actions, predominantly women (81%), immigrants (54%), and people of color (86%), wins in races focusing on issues beyond the traditional union demands of living wages, improved benefits, and safer workplace were paramount to creating a justice agenda for our members, in all aspects of their lives. In response, during the months leading up to the election, SEIU Local 2015 deployed democracy captains in over 500 communities to phone-bank and engage voters. More than 720 SEIU Local 2015 members participated in over 1,246 events and volunteer opportunities to support progressive causes.
The election made clear that across the county, women of color are leading this new era of leadership. Vice President-Elect, Kamala Harris, is blazing a path forward for Asian American, Pacific Islanders, and Black Americans. Holly Mitchell in LA County will become the fifth and final member of an all-female Board of Supervisors for the first time in history. Behind the scenes, women of color have led the charge in organizing communities.
While we have won crucial victories for long term care workers, there is much work that remains to be done in the state and the country to ensure that employers and our electeds Respect Us, Protect Us and Pay Us as essential workers. Even with record turnout numbers, we faced tough losses, falling short on increasing opportunities for people of color in the state and increasing funding for the working class. There were many wins across the state but we still must continue the fight to end cash bail, expand rent control, and expand the rights of gig economy workers. Although this election shows that deep divisions remain as the legacy of the Trump administration, we have laid the groundwork for unity and healing through our widespread community mobilization nationally and locally which must continue.
Our members are insisting on unions for all, democracy for all and long term care for all. We must keep standing up and fighting hard for change. The opportunities to do better have come into clearer view as we all experienced heightened levels of engagement in California and turnout across the country. Together, let us move full steam ahead in our work looking towards the future.
