From the top of the ballot to the bottom, SEIU Members Can Come Together To Drive Historic Change

Sisters and brothers: As you read these words, we’re less than 70 days away from the most important election many of us will see in our lifetimes. At stake this November are the very things we’ve fought so hard to protect: vital services for our communities, good, middle class jobs, and a real voice in the decisions that affect our work, our families, and those we serve.

Already, we’ve seen hateful, divisive rhetoric dominate this political season. Politicians and big money interests have been fighting tooth and nail to divide working people across this country, in an effort to enact policies and elect politicians that hurt working families and boost the profits of big corporations and the wealthy few.

It’s up to us to stop them. In this critical moment, it’s up to us to rise above the divisive rhetoric and to come together to protect working families in California and across the country.

Time and time again, we’ve demonstrated that when we unite, we win. Together we stood up through Fix LA, and we restored 5,000 good union jobs, protected key community services, secured raises, and beat back every concession.

We’ve united to expand the middle class, and raise the floor for all working families through the Fight for $15. As a result, we made history in LA City, LA County, and set the stage for a landmark $15 minimum in California.

This November, we’ll need to take that energy to the polls, and turn out big in support of working families on key state measures and a host of local candidates and issues. Two key fights: Defeating Measure RRR, the anti-worker L.A. City Charter amendment that will gut civil service protections at LADWP; and passing Prop 55, the statewide measure to maintain the current income tax level on the wealthiest Californians to save public education and safety net healthcare programs across California.

Take a look inside at other key races and campaigns on the ballot across Southern California. Together, we are unstoppable, but it’s going to take every one of us working together to get workers to the polls and demonstrate our collective power at the ballot box.

Bob Schoonover, President