Search: 2018

Born in Los Angeles, Anica Walls was raised in the agricultural landscape surrounding Ventura, California, where she lived in a community largely populated with immigrant farmworkers. An early memory of the labor issues and politics of the time was when, at the age of 5, she was told she couldn’t have grapes because “we can’t buy grapes right now,” in support of the famous boycott launched by Cesar Chavez.

She was influenced greatly by her father and her “tia,” who reinforced in her how important it is to be fair and just and to treat all others with humanity.

Her passion for the working class carried her through college at UC Santa Cruz, where she earned two Bachelor of Arts degrees in Latin American and Latino Studies and Community Studies.

Out of college, she worked as an organizer helping at-risk and poor residents get much-needed services in Mexico, San Francisco, Santa Cruz and Sacramento, including Head Start and the Mission Neighborhood Center.

Her state career began in 2006, and she works in Sacramento as a Disability Evaluation Analyst III at the Department of Social Services.  She’s been recognized for her work with an Excellence in Customer Service award in 2017.

In 2007, she became a Union Steward after witnessing repeated incidents of management harassing her fellow employees. As the Vice President for Organizing/Representation, she hopes to foster greater member engagement by making Local 1000 visible in our worksites, believing “we are all stronger together.”

Anica is married and the mother of two boys. She lives in Sacramento.

David Jimenez is serving his first term as a statewide officer after more than 10 years as a member leader advocating for his fellow state workers at his Los Angeles-area worksite.

He’s the first generation of his family to be born in the US. His parents, immigrants from Mexico, instilled in David the value of education, family and faith, and he was the second in his family to earn a college degree—in Business Administration—from Cal Poly Pomona. David and his wife Conny are raising a family of their own and are sharing the same values with their child, including being a proud union family!

A veteran of 17 years of state service, David works in Covina as a Disability Evaluation Analyst for the Department of Social Services. As a Job Steward in his workplace, he fought against a management style that looked at applicants for SSI and disability income as mere numbers and production quotas rather than individuals.

David’s career as a union activist and member leader began more than a decade ago when he was a part of a statewide DDSD Joint Labor Management Committee. As an elected leader, he held positions as DLC Secretary, Treasurer, Vice President/Chief Steward, and, since 2019, President of DLC 706. David is a two-time SEIU International Delegate and previously served as a CSEA convention delegate.

A staunch advocate for our union’s hard-earned rights, David was a part of the team that piloted the Leadership Apprenticeship Program for Stewards (LAPS) during its first year, and also did a stint at Local 1000’s Member Resource Center (MRC) helping members with questions about the contract or who were facing issues at their worksites.

David believes that a leader must listen to his members, be open to ideas, and be accountable for his actions. He exemplifies this by consistently raising his members concerns not only at the worksite but within the union. He stands up to the injustices that impact his members and offers solutions that are member-focused.