Winning for workers by electing the boss

Earlier this month, SEIU 721 members racked up some key wins in a host of Southern California races, winning in 15 of the 19 contests where we made endorsements.

So why does this matter to our members? Just like with external organizing, activism in politics can have a direct impact on workers’ jobs, wages, benefits and working conditions. This is doubly true with public employees. It’s not an exaggeration to say that public employees elect their boss when they win campaigns. Turning your back on politics as a public worker is giving up a key source of leverage with elected officials who directly determine how much money is spent to deliver public services and compensate the workers who provide them.

It’s tempting to throw up your hands and say “all politicians are the same,” but it’s simply not true. That’s why it’s so important to endorse and support — with contributions, phone banks, precinct walking and other actions — the candidates committed to investing in education and quality public services and willing to take on the richest corporations and individuals and get them to pay their fair share.

LA City Councilman José Huizar’s recent landslide victory is great example. After the revelation that big Wall Street banks gouged the City of LA, leading the city to cut basic services, Huizar took them on publicly. He supports raising LA’s minimum wage to $15 for all workers and he wants to restore service cuts. Our union endorsed him, contributed to him, and put in more than 1,800 volunteer hours of phone banking and precinct walking, ensuring his victory.

The same type of story played out in wins for 721-endorsed candidates and measures in other races, thanks to the time spent by leaders, members and staff on town halls, candidate interviews and on the campaign trail.

Bob Schoonover, President