Valerie Sotero, Department of Rehabilitation
What made you decide to start working for the State?
I decided to work for the State in 2020 when EDD was hiring during the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time, I was on disability, and returning to the workforce felt like a major leap of faith. As someone living with a disability, I wasn’t sure whether I could successfully transition back to full-time employment. What gave me the confidence to take that step was the opportunity to work remotely full-time, which made employment accessible and allowed me to focus on rebuilding my career.
My experiences in the private sector taught me the importance of workplace protections. When I became ill, I faced disability discrimination and felt unsupported during one of the most difficult periods of my life. Rather than providing reasonable accommodations that would have allowed me to continue working, my employer made an already challenging situation even harder by treating me with hostility. That experience showed me how vulnerable workers can be without strong protections and support. After leaving that job, I decided I would never again work anywhere without union representation. Joining the State gave me the opportunity to build a career in an environment where I could be valued for my abilities rather than limited by my disability. I became a union member on my very first day because I understood firsthand the importance of having a strong voice advocating for workers’ rights, dignity, and fair treatment.
I was also drawn to public service. After working in the financial industry, I wanted a career centered on helping people and making a meaningful difference in their lives. EDD provided that opportunity during one of the most challenging periods in California’s history. Serving Californians has been incredibly rewarding, and I am always looking for ways to improve policies, processes, and services to better meet the needs of the people we serve.
When I became ill, I faced disability discrimination and felt unsupported during one of the most difficult periods of my life. Joining the State gave me the opportunity to build a career in an environment where I could be valued for my abilities rather than limited by my disability.
How has your leadership evolved since becoming a steward?
Becoming a steward helped me find my voice.
Long before I became a steward, I felt a responsibility to speak up for people who were unable or afraid to speak up for themselves. Part of that comes from my own experiences. There was a time in my life when I needed someone to advocate for me, and no one did. I never forgot what that felt like. As a steward, I have learned that leadership is about more than simply speaking up. It is about understanding when to speak, how to speak, and how to create meaningful change. I have learned the importance of strategy, timing, and building support around an issue so that advocacy has the greatest possible impact.
I have also learned that growth and progress can sometimes be uncomfortable. Challenging the status quo is not always popular, but I believe agitation with a purpose can be a powerful tool for positive change. My goal is never to create conflict for its own sake, but to raise issues that need attention and help move us toward better outcomes for workers.
My goal is to become a more tenacious and indomitable advocate, I have immersed myself in law, workplace policies, and contract interpretation. Understanding not only what the rules say, but how they are applied, has allowed me to better represent and support my fellow workers. That passion for advocacy has inspired me to pursue law school, where I hope to deepen my knowledge and continue contributing to the labor movement for years to come. I have also learned I cannot do this by myself. I have to navigate complicated relationships and sticky situations to get the goals I want to achieve. I have always been an independent person whom has never relied on anyone to get where I am at today, I have prided myself on that. However, labor movement is not something we can do on our own. Yes we can take charge and do our own actions, but we are louder and stronger together collectively acting as one. Learning to ask others for help has not only been a lesson but a skill and a blessing. People want to help, all I have to do is find the right people and right way to ask.
What motivated you to step into leadership?
What motivated me to step into leadership was a simple belief: be the change you want to see.
For my first several years with the State, I was focused on my work. I consistently received strong performance reviews, worked significant overtime, and even received a Certificate of Excellence from my Deputy Director. I had no plans to become a steward and no reason to believe I would need one.
Everything changed in 2023.
RTO was being implemented. I informed management that I could not return to the office. At the same time, I was going through medical trauma and needed leave, reasonable accommodations, and FMLA. Around the same time, I had spoken up to management about concerns involving a supervisor. What followed was one of the most difficult and eye-opening experiences of my career.
For the next year and a half, I was treated poorly at every opportunity. I watched decisions being made that were wrong, unfair, and in some cases retaliatory. I knew something wasn’t right, but I did not yet have the knowledge to identify every policy violation, contract issue, or legal protection that applied. I even filed an EEO complaint on my own, only to discover that passion alone is not enough. You need knowledge, strategy, and an understanding of the rules if you want to effectively advocate for yourself and others. That experience lit a fire in me.
I realized that if someone like me, who was highly engaged, educated, and willing to fight for themselves, could struggle to navigate these situations, then what about the countless other employees who might not have a voice just yet? I became determined to educate myself so I could not only defend myself but also help protect my coworkers from experiencing the same treatment. In August 2024, I became a steward. I wanted to learn how to effectively challenge bad decisions, hold management accountable, and ensure employees understood their rights. Most importantly, I wanted to be the person who stands up when others cannot, because I know firsthand how much that matters.
I have seen firsthand what can happen when people come together with a shared purpose and refuse to accept that things cannot change. We should always strive to be better today so we can build an even better tomorrow.
What continues to inspire your involvement in this work?
What continues to inspire my involvement is the belief that things can always be better.
When I became a steward, I quickly realized that simply holding the title was not enough for me. If I was truly going to be the change I wanted to see, I needed to become actively involved. I have always had a knack for seeing the bigger picture and identifying opportunities for improvement, which naturally led me to become a very active steward.
One of the things that keeps me motivated is seeing progress happen in real time. Our union has made tremendous improvements over the past several years thanks to the hard work of countless members, activists, leaders, and staff. I have seen firsthand what can happen when people come together with a shared purpose and refuse to accept that things cannot change. At the same time, I don’t believe we should ever become complacent. Being better than we were yesterday is not enough. We should always strive to be better today so we can build an even better tomorrow. We can communicate better, engage members better, develop leaders better, and advocate better. At my core, I am a fixer. I see problems and immediately start thinking about solutions. I am also an agitator in the best sense of the word. I believe positive change requires people who are willing to ask difficult questions, challenge assumptions, and push organizations to reach their full potential. Excellence does not happen by accident.
What inspires me most is watching people find their voice. Every time I see a member speak up for the first time, stand up for a coworker, take on a leadership role, or realize the power they have when standing in solidarity with others, I am reminded why this work matters. The courage, resilience, and solidarity I have found among my union brothers and sisters has made me proud of the person I am becoming, and I hope to inspire that same confidence in others.