Los Angeles, CA — September 17, 2020 — SEIU Local 2015, California’s largest labor union representing 400,000 nursing home and home care workers throughout California and one of the largest immigrant unions in the country, has officially launched its sweeping voter contact efforts this week ahead of a critical election this season.
This 2020 voting season is arguably one of the most pivotal moments in our history thus far, as COVID-19 has further exacerbated the long-existing inequities among Black and brown communities. This election, the Union is mobilizing widespread voter engagement efforts spanning eight different languages. SEIU Local 2015’s diverse group of members across California will participate in phone banking systems to propel approximately 115,000 households in Los Angeles county alone to get out and vote. With nearly 70,000 voters in Los Angeles County having requested election materials in a language other than English, SEIU Local 2015’s mobilization efforts are aimed to especially advocate for low propensity voters of color.
“We’re exhausted,” said Anjeneau Ward, SEIU Local 2015 member. “The current administration has been relentless in its attacks on disenfranchised communities and having to endure this assault on top of struggling with the challenges this pandemic has brought – PPE, inequities in pay, death – has pushed us to finally say enough is enough this election season.”
SEIU Local 2015 has hosted six virtual Democracy Schools in multiple languages so far, training over 1100 members to become Democracy Captains in the Election who are charged with guiding members through the election process. This comes in tandem with the Union’s Outreach Circle platform. To date, almost 1300 members have joined the Outreach Circle and are starting to take digital actions and register to phonebank opportunities. SEIU Local 2015 represents long term care workers in 48 counties and IHSS workers in 37 counties. These efforts are poised to mobilize every county – the largest, widespread phone banking effort in the nation with the exception of the presidential campaign itself.
“Our members are without a doubt frustrated,” said SEIU Local 2015 EVP, Arnulfo De La Cruz. “The goal of this year’s initiatives is to transform that frustration into a community mobilized to participate at historic levels this year. Our voter contact rollout marks Long Term Care workers dedication to use this election to transform our work, our communities and our country”.
SEIU Local 2015 fights for the rights of its members as they perform the jobs undervalued by the public – whether it’s livable wages, Personal Protection Equipment, or testing transparency – all to create a more equitable workplace environment. The Union is also uniquely set up to support its members’ own justice agendas, going deeper into issues that affect them and their communities such as criminal justice, housing, and environmental reforms.
In this time of political and social unrest, the power and purpose of unions is more significant than ever. SEIU Local 2015 believes all workers should be able to advocate for one another to create a unified voice that can make a difference whether in their workplace, their community, and as they head to the polls this November.
To learn more about SEIU Local 2015 visit www.SEIU2015.org or on social media @SEIU2015.