Behind the Megaphone: My Union Backstory

Welcome to my new series, Behind the Megaphone, where I share more about myself and my background. To kick things off, I’m delighted to share more about how I got involved with organizing with CAPS-UAW. Let’s get into it.

Those who know me will tell you that I’m not the type to boast, rarely talking about myself. And that’s especially true when I’m conducting union business. The way I see it, when I’m at a union action, it’s not about me. Just as this campaign isn’t about me, either. It’s about doing the most good for the membership. Behind the Megaphone is designed for voters to learn more about the person holding the megaphone.

Union organizing came naturally to me because I already had organizing experience. I’ll share more in future segments—here, I want to focus on how I began organizing with CAPS.

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I thought CAPS was the type of union where you paid dues, and, in exchange, they helped you when you got in trouble. I didn’t think it was possible for it to be anything more than that—such as a vehicle for organizing our colleagues for better pay and benefits. Like so many of us, I thought I had more important things to do than to engage with “the union.” It seemed like there was no hope of us getting pay equity with engineers anyway. I felt powerless to make a difference—why bother? It seemed hopeless.

Flash forward: it’s August 2024, and it’s late in the evening. The legislative session is about to end, and we’re still without a contract. It’s been four years. This is the final negotiation session; otherwise, it’ll be another year with no raises. Another year of my bills and deductions going up and my wage staying the same. I’m furiously typing every word being said during our bargaining session with CalHR into a shared Google Doc. Did my fellow Bargaining Team members and I hear them right? We’d actually reached a tentative agreement?

Once the dust settled, I began to reflect: How did I get here?

2021

Pandemic uncertainties lead to furloughs, even though the State enjoys a huge budget surplus. Our contract has expired in June 2020. No visible progress is detected.

2022

Another year without an agreement. The CAPS Contract Action Team (CAT) is formed, and I quickly sign up. In May 2022, I attend rallies at CalEPA H.Q. and Caltrans. In July, I take part in organizing a Stand Up for Scientists rally. Later, I attend UC Berkeley Labor Center’s “Skills to Win” workshop. Members, including myself, are growing increasingly frustrated with being out of a contract for so long. We push the union’s misleadership class (at this point, our union is staffed by a consulting firm) to act with urgency and consider the “full range” of possibilities, up to and including withholding our labor.

2023

I deepen my involvement with the CAT and am approved at a Board of Directors meeting to become a Local Representative serving CalRecycle. Later, I accept a position on the CAPS Member Action Committee (MAC) responsible for overseeing the CAT. I plan rallies, solidarity breaks, and petitions. I am also featured as a speaker alongside members of the legislature and labor leaders at a Fair Pay rally on the Capitol steps. Later that year, I am appointed to the CAPS Bargaining Team, where I advocate for an impasse/ULP strike and strike authorization vote. I take part in mediation with the State until our historic Defiance for Science strike. I organize practice pickets at CalHR and provide support to members looking to do the same at their worksites. I probably end up planning and executing at least half a dozen rallies within the span of a few months. During CAPS’ three-day strike, I serve as a Strike Captain at CalEPA H.Q., the largest rally site, overseeing thousands of state scientists picketing the building. There’s a lot more I want to say about the strike. Stay tuned for the full story on another edition of Behind the Megaphone.

2024

Bargaining resumes after a threatened “last, best, and final offer” imposition, and CAPS affiliates with UAW. We launch our “End the Gender Pay Gap” campaign to secure a fair contract. Thanks to our efforts, an agreement is reached and ratified by the membership including historic raises for those most in need. Meanwhile, the Governor attempts to order scientists back into the office twice a week. I immediately engage members and put together a coalition of unions that include PECG (engineer’s union) and SEIU Local 1000 to oppose this disastrous order. We conduct several rallies at locations that include: the Governor’s office, CalEPA H.Q., and Sacramento City Hall that attract hundreds and receive positive media coverage. Later that year, I become a founding member of the CAPS-UAW Catalyst Committee and the District 3 Member Support Team. I also participate in events such as Lobby Day, help organize a Gender Pay Gap rally at the Capitol, and deliver photo petitions to key decision-makers in the Legislature.

2025

We start off the year facing a two-pronged assault: four-day RTO and furloughs. My colleagues and I spring into action, reactivating our “coalition of the willing” and expanding upon it. We also host several anti-RTO actions at worksites up and down the State, as well as at the Capitol, the I-5 overpass, and the Governor’s office. This culminates in us winning a one-year postponement of RTO and the ratification of a side letter with 97% approval, keeping our raises intact and softening the furlough blow. Right now, I’m focused on several key areas of work: deepening my involvement in our District 3 steward structure (where I currently serve on our Rules Committee), meeting with management to discuss and advocate for a wide range of member issues, organizing members in my district, pursuing grievances, and submitting complaints to ensure members are being paid every dollar they’re owed. I also attend several important training events such as the UAW R6 Leadership Conference, UAW R6 Summer School, and CAPS-UAW Summer Camp. I’m still heavily involved in committee work, including the CAPS-UAW Political Action Working Group and the RTO Working Group.