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On Saturday, October 26th, the IELC organized a Labor Leadership Super-Walk and Rally for Will Rollins’ campaign. Affiliated unions and labor leaders from across California joined the canvasing efforts to support the Rollins campaign — a key race for many of our affiliated unions. A star-studded ensemble of speakers addressed the similarly star-studded crowd:
Speakers
- Johana Puno Hester, UDW Deputy Executive Director and Vice President of the California Federation of Labor Unions
- Joe Duffle, President of UFCW 1167, and Vice President of the California Federation of Labor Unions
- Lorena Gonzalez, President of the California Federation of Labor Unions
- Mark Takano, Congressmember and Candidate to Congressional District 39
- Yesenia Gonzalez, President of the Inland Empire Labor Council and UFCW 1167 Organizing Director
- Will Rollins, Candidate for Congressional District 41
Notable Attendees
- All of the rank-and-file union members who took time to be there!
- Jeffery M. Freitas, President of CFT and Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the California Federation of Labor Unions
- Kathryn Lybarger, Executive Vice President of AFSCME 3299 and 2nd Executive Vice President for the California Federation of Labor Unions
- Carol Kim, Business Manager of the San Diego Building and Construction Trades Council
- Brian Rice, President of the California Professional Firefighter’s Association
- Gretchen Newsom, Political Coordinator for IBEW’s 9th District
- Clarissa Cervantes, Riverside City Councilmember, Ward 2
- Fauzia Rizvi, Western Municipal Water District Director for District 5
- Juan Carrillo, California State Assemblymember, 39th District
- Luz Riva, California State Assemblymember, 43rd District
- Sabrina Cervantes, California State Assemblymember, 58th District
Topics of discussion among the crowd and speakers alike centered on the need to remove Ken Calvert from office, flipping the seat, and electing someone who will be an advocate for workers instead.
Joe Duffle, for example, pointed to how neither Calvert nor his staff have attempted met with union members to push policy and have been hostile towards the union in the past . This record contrasted starkly with Will’s, who was happy to be among organized labor and vocally reiterated his commitment to signing the PRO Act, which would protect the right to organize.
As the speeches wrapped up canvassers grabbed both their literature and water bottles as they rushed out to start canvassing for the day. Spirits were high throughout the rally, and workers were motivated to push for meaningful change.
