Members elect new statewide officers
Yvonne Walker has been elected president by members of SEIU Local 1000—the largest union of California state employees. Walker, a legal secretary at the Department of Justice, has served as the 94,000-member union’s vice president for bargaining for the past three years.
“We’ll continue to focus our energies to pass a responsible state budget, negotiate a new contract for our members, and build a union that wins for our members,” said Walker, a native of San Diego County. “This is an opportunity to bring everyone together … This was a tough and spirited election, but we all share the same goals.”
Walker defeated Donna Snodgrass, who serves at Vice President of the California State Employees Association, and Ken Hamidi, a compliance representative for the Franchise Tax Board.
“I congratulate Yvonne on her victory,” said Snodgrass, who lives in San Bernardino and works as a telecommunications systems analyst for the Department of Forestry & Fire Protection. “The outcome speaks for itself. It was a hard fought battle.”
Members elected three other statewide officers in mail balloting announced Thursday afternoon:
Cora Okumura—vice president and secretary-treasurer;
Jim Hard—vice president of organizing and representation;
Kathleen Collins—vice president for bargaining.
The newly elected officers assume their positions on July 1.
Okumura is a senior insurance examiner at the Department of Insurance in Los Angeles, Hard is an employment program representative at Employment Development Department and lives in Sacramento, and Collins is a workers comp claims adjuster at State Compensation Insurance Fund in the City of Commerce.
Walker’s and Okumora’s elections are historic. Walker is the first African-American woman elected to the presidency of SEIU Local 1000 or of the California State Employees Association. Okumora is believed to be the first Filipina woman elected to statewide union office in California.
Local 1000’s contract with the state expires on June 30. The union began negotiations with the state on Tuesday.
“Our current bargaining campaign will be one of the most difficult in our history,” Collins said. “We will not succeed without member input and active involvement.”
Okumura succeeds Cathy Hackett who chose not to run for re-election after serving 12 years as a union officer. Hard, who is currently president, will succeed Marc Bautista, who has served as a Local 1000 vice president.
“First of all, I would like to praise and honor the Lord God for this victory,” Okumura said. “I also would like to thank everyone who supported us and who trust that we will continue the work that we had begun. This is your victory!”
Hackett, a state employee since 1977, said: “Although my role is changing, I’ll continue to fight for members of Local 1000 … I’ll continue to organize and I’ll continue to fight to make things better for all state employees.”
Marc Bautista, who has served the past 10 years as a Local 1000 vice president also chose to step aside.
“I know my values will endure and my work will continue and thrive, because Local 1000 is not built on my values but on our values—the strength of all of us working together for common goals,” Bautista said.