March 26, 2021
Beth Bartel Works to Break Down Accessibility Barriers for her Fellow Workers
Beth Bartel, SEIU Local 1000 Member and President of DLC 768, first became involved with the Union when she felt the need to speak up for those she worked with. “I wanted to become a Steward because I was tired of witnessing and experiencing workplace bullying that management wouldn’t address,” she said. “I felt my coworkers and I deserve better, and if I didn’t stand up, I shouldn’t expect anyone else to.” This commitment to stepping up has driven her 8-year tenure as a Steward and DLC President.
Patsy Mink Blazed the Trail for Asian American Women
When Hawaii became the 50th state in 1959, Patsy Mink was ready to make history. And she would continue to do so throughout her life.
Born in 1927 in Paia, Hawaii territory, the then Patsy Matsu Takemoto was the valedictorian of her high school class. After graduation, she attended Wilson College in Pennsylvania and the University of Nebraska but transferred because students of color were not allowed to live in the same dorms as white students. After undergoing surgery for a thyroid condition, she decided to finish her undergraduate degree at the University of Hawaii, where she graduated in 1948 with a double major in zoology and chemistry.
Spring 2021 Board of Directors Meeting Provides Update on Health, Direction of Our Union
The Local 1000 Board of Directors (BOD)—the core of our union’s member-led governance structure—held its March meeting in a virtual environment, as we continue to observe safe business practices during the COVID-19 pandemic.