L.A. Fed Workers Congress 2022

“When labor leads, miracles happen. When we lead on our terms, miracles happen!” were the inspiring words of Ron Herrera, president of the Los Angeles Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO at The Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, which brought together local labor and community leaders for the 2022 Workers Congress on March 31.

Several L.A. Local members, delegates and staff joined for the empowering day. First time attendee Zeke Alton, vice chair of the L.A. Local Organizing Committee, summed up the day: “The LA Fed Labor Conference was a fantastic opportunity to be exposed to and learn from the challenges and successes of our fellow unions here in Los Angeles. I personally learned a great deal that I will use to help SAG-AFTRA labor organizing in the future.”

Keynote speakers at the event included AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler; California Federation of Labor President Lorena Gonzalez; activist and author Angela Davis; as well as Herrera, who is also the secretary-treasurer of Teamsters Local 396. Leaders from unions across L.A also took to the podium at the Weston Bonaventure Hotel in Downtown L.A., a property organized under a Unite Here Local 11 contract.

Throughout the day, leaders shared common goals of L.A. unions, focusing on educating, organizing, building solidarity and fighting for fair wages, health care, voting rights, housing rights and human rights.

“Workers are the community,” Herrera said. “Workers’ rights, we all know, are human rights.”

“Over the last few years, the people of Los Angeles have experienced an economic downturn, massive uprisings and a global pandemic that has disrupted every aspect of our lives … But in a time when we experienced the worst, we saw the best in each other … What we realized in front of our eyes is the power and possibilities that come when we dream radically and reimagine a new world … on our terms,” the L.A. Federation of Labor said in a statement announcing the event.

Challenges our unions face were discussed and victories were highlighted. “We may have a long way to go, but we’ve also come a very long way and we need to celebrate that,” said Angela Davis, an educator, author, and a civil rights and social activist.

“Wealth is concentrated in the hands of few people. Where does the wealth come from? It comes from the labor of working people. It comes from stolen labor … Capitalism thrives on the unpaid labor of working people,” Davis added.

Referring to a few of the wealthiest capitalists exploiting workers to build themselves rocket ships to outer space, Davis said, “They are in the process of destroying this planet. That’s why they imagine themselves colonizing other planets.”

Improving member education was a reiterated goal throughout the congress. Frank V. Lima, general secretary-treasurer of International Association of Fire Fighters, Local 122 spoke to the unionists, offering advice as fall elections approach, “We need to do better at educating members [to] stop voting against their own best interest.”

As the event continued, attendees were invited to choose between three different motivating workshops that focused on how to hold one-on-one organizing conversations, member mobilization, campaign escalation and how to be a part of the voting rights movement.  

In the workshops, members of the represented unions had the opportunity to interact with one another and learn a bit about their union kin working in other professions.

“I am inspired by every experience I have with the L.A. Federation of Labor, seeing how other unions fight for and win better wages and working conditions, fulfilling the purpose of a union.” said Gaye Nelson, co-chair of the SAG-AFTRA MOVE L.A. Committee.

Enhancing and increasing member engagement and solidarity was another common thread shared throughout the congress. The technique suggested to achieve this goal was a technique every performer and broadcaster rely on; listening.

Liz Shuler, president of the AFL-CIO, spoke of the value of one-on-one conversations to defeat “misinformation and disinformation out there that is dividing our country … We are going to need to do some deep listening and get back to the basics. Reestablish credibility through face-to-face conversations, especially worksites … Those conversations will surface the issues that really matter to our members.”

On the subject of national and local elections, Shuler added, “Let’s commit to reaching out to our members in new ways … We will be at the forefront in electing pro-worker candidates this fall.”

SAG-AFTRA L.A. Local Organizing Committee member and Communications Committee Vice Chair Jeffrey Reeves, a first-time attendee shared, “It was a powerful, motivating day for me. It started with a community chant of 'When we fight, we win!' with brothers, sisters and kin from so many Los Angeles unions. Great speakers and workshops. Los Angeles is undeniably a union town.”

The Los Angeles Federation of Labor is an association of over 300 affiliated union and labor organizations representing over 800,000 members in L.A.

Photo: SAG-AFTRA delegates, members and staff at the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO at the 2022 Workers Congress on March 31.