Public Employee Press

AFSCME's Laura Reyes
Union sisters gain a strong voice in new Secretary-Treasurer

By DIANE S. WILLIAMS

"AFSCME has real opportunities for growth, in every state there are workers in nontraditional jobs waiting to be organized," said Secretary-Treasurer Laura Reyes, the first woman elected to the executive position in the union's 75-year history.

With reproductive health, child care and pay equity issues on AFSCME's agenda along with protecting jobs, pensions, and collective bargaining, Reyes believes she and the AFSCME Women's Advisory Council will play a vital role in shaping AFSCME's future.

"Part of my job is to help sisters in AFSCME have a voice," said Reyes, in an interview with PEP. Women make up 56 percent of AFSCME's 1.4 million members. "That's real potential and real power."

As a California home-care worker, Laura Reyes joined the United Domestic Workers AFSCME Local 3930 in 2002.

She led a grueling door-to-door campaign, she said, while caring for her disabled son. Reyes lived the struggle for dignity and fair pay. "We were working in the home, providing care for the severely disabled but were not recognized as worthy," she said.

"It was a no-brainer - they needed a union and were grateful to hear others were doing the same important work," Reyes said. UDW is about 90 percent women, mostly middle-aged and single parents, who earn $7 to $10 an hour caring for the disabled. "When we came together in solidarity, we realized our potential," she said.

In 2008, UDW members elected Reyes president. She worked closely with AFSCME to bring UDW back from insolvency and helped rewrite parts of its constitution. Membership grew from 20,000 to 62,000, making UDW the largest AFSCME union in California. In 2010, the local elected her as an AFSCME vice president.

Reyes was tapped by Lee Saunders as a running mate and thrust into labor's spotlight.

"Having good mentors who shared their knowledge helped me," said Reyes. "They reached out and that helping hand made the difference."

"Women labor leaders should be mentoring the next generation. It is so very important because this is still a man's world," Reyes said. "Mentoring is part of good leadership. If we let go of our fears and reach out, we can achieve so much more."

With much at stake in the general election, AFSCME and working families stand with President Barack Obama, who supports labor on issues like job creation, fair pay, and the right to organize.

"It is very scary to think of the damage Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan would do: They'd repeal the Obama health-care law that gave 32 million people access to health care, destroy Medicaid, slash funding for education and other government services our members provide. Their cuts would have a domino effect and throw us into the Dark Ages," Reyes said.

"We've accomplished so much with President Obama," Reyes said. "We will lose America's middle class if the Republicans win."