Sacramento, CA – The 180,000 essential worker members of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Western States Council in California today announced their union is strongly backing Jessica Martinez to be appointed as the next leader of California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA).

“UFCW members in California wholeheartedly support Jessica Martinez to become the next Chief of Cal/OSHA,” said Andrea Zinder, president, UFCW Western States Council and UFCW Local 324. “Our members have spent the last 20+ months on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic and know just how important Cal/OSHA’s nation-leading regulations were to keeping workers, their families, their coworkers and the public safe. Jessica Martinez’s more than 18 years of leadership experience in the non-profit, labor and university sector promoting occupational safety and health make her undoubtedly qualified for the position and we know she will help strengthen the agency to ensure workers are kept safe.”

“Cal/OSHA’s critical role in California’s workplaces has never been clearer than right now as we look to a future where COVID-19 is here to stay,” said Joe Duffle, president, UFCW Local 1167. “Frontline workers like UFCW members have seen just how rapidly COVID-19 infections spread in California’s workplaces and how workers paid the price for these outbreaks with their health and lives. That’s why it’s essential Cal/OSHA have a strong leader at the helm to keep workers safe as they do their job. We know Jessica Martinez will empower workers and ensure their health and wellbeing isn’t put at risk when they clock into work, and that’s why we’re standing behind her in support.”

“UFCW members fought hard this year to pass SB 606 (Gonzalez) to ensure Cal/OSHA has the resources it needs to keep workers safe, but we know this essential legislation will only be as strong as its leader is,” said Amber Baur, executive director, UFCW Western States Council. “Jessica Martinez’s experience at the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health has shown she has the ability and passion to engage workers as leaders to win critical improvements in workplaces and communities, with a particular focus on immigrants, people of color, women and youth. As a union whose membership is made up of women of color, we look forward to working with Jessica Martinez as California’s next Cal/OSHA chief to continue incorporating the voices we don’t often hear.” 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 23, 2021

CONTACT: Jenna Thompson, 949.246.1620, [email protected]

UFCW Western States Council – Legislative and Workforce Development Aide

POSITION OVERVIEW

The UFCW Western States Council is the coordinating body of 11 UFCW locals in three states (AZ, CA, NV). UFCW represents over 185,000 private sector workers in the following industries: retail food, retail drug, non-food retail, pharmacy, agriculture and cannabis. The States Council seeks a highly skilled and energetic person to fill the “in-house” legislative affairs and workforce development liaison position.

• Under the direction of the Executive Director and Legislative Director, the Legislative Affairs Department is responsible for the following: Advocating for UFCW priorities before the state legislature and all regulatory agencies within California as those priorities are set forth by executive board and Executive Director
• Legislatively represents and protects UFCW’s interests in Sacramento
• Maintaining and nurturing relationships with state government and associated authorities and all committees
• In coordination with the Executive Director and Legislative Director, assisting with the establishment of legislative strategy, policies and plans that align with government laws and furthers UFCW’s interests
• Monitoring legislative and regulatory activities that impact UFCW’s core industries and priorities
• Maintaining and further developing relationships with other labor union legislative advocates to support broader labor union legislative goals
• Advising the Executive Director on matters related to California politics and helping to devise and implement political strategies
• Working with consultants, including media consultants, on identifying and implementing effective media, political, and legislative strategies to implement and reinforce UFCW’s priorities

Under the direction of the Executive Director and Workforce Advisor, the Workforce Education Department is responsible for the following:

• Partnering with locals to identify priority occupation training priorities
• Identifying strategies and securing funding support for UFCW workforce training initiatives
• Managing public and private grant acquisition and execution
• Monitoring workforce development governmental policies and advocating UFCW’s interests
• Supporting the Legislative Affairs department on workforce related legislation, regulations, and other policy vehicles
• Providing case management and supportive services to training participants
• Tracking training participant data and reporting to required entities

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE LEGISLATIVE AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AIDE

The Legislative and Workforce Development Aide shall be expected to initiate, implement, and manage programs, and provide the leadership needed to fulfill the mission of the Legislative Affairs and Workforce Development Department under the direction of the Executive Director. It is expected that the Legislative and Workforce Development Aide will perform these tasks at the highest level of quality, effectiveness, and efficiency.

Additional duties not included above for the Legislative Aide are:

• Attend weekly California Labor Federation lobbyist meetings
• Create a tracking system for all UFCW priority legislation and labor supported bills
• Serve as a liaison with other AFL-CIO and non-AFL-CIO union legislative affairs departments
• Attend sessions of the Executive Council and develop a standing report on UFCW priorities
• Provide strategic advice to the Council, when asked, on issues related to political and organizational goals
• Plan and execute annual UFCW Advocacy Day
• Plan and execute special projects upon direction of the Executive Director and Legislative Director
• Coordinate with the political director and communications department to develop and implement strategy related to legislative work

Additional duties not included above for the Workforce Development Aide are:

• Budget and expenditure forecasting and tracking
• Training Participant data collection and reporting
• Training Participant case management
• Program/project research
• Administrative functions

QUALIFICATIONS

Applicants for this position must have one or more of the following:

• A bachelor’s degree in a field related to public policy. A masters or law degree are a plus
• Minimum 2 years of experience working in government relations or lobbying
• Experience working for, or with labor unions
• Show increasing level of responsibility throughout career
• Must have excellent analytical, writing and verbal communications skills
• Have expertise in understanding the legislative and regulatory process
• Understand how to apply the use of electronic media techniques and remain current on new forms of technology to support lobbying work
• Have the ability to work cooperatively with employees, other department directors and supervisors, and consultants
• Experience with, or interest in, public and private grant management operations and federal and state workforce development policies, programs, and funding
• Mastery of conventional office software products

This is a high-intensity position that requires the ability to work hard, travel frequently, handle many issues at one time, successfully deal with all kinds of personalities, and work well in a team setting. It is required that the applicant live in the Sacramento area or be willing to move upon hiring.

COMPENSATION

Competitive package of quality health, insurance and pension benefits will be offered to the successful candidate as well as a competitive annual salary. Starting salary is $60,000 but can be higher depending on prior experience.

TO APPLY

Please email a detailed résumé, cover letter, and recent work product samples (links acceptable)to: Dana Palmer, Executive Assistant, [email protected].

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 12/10/2021

For confidential inquiries about this position please feel free to contact us by phone at (714) 670-5580 ext. 120

Sacramento, CA – The United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Western States Council today applauded the Governor’s signature on AB 1533 (Committee on Business and Professions), to extend the sunset date for the California State Board of Pharmacy until January 1, 2026 and update the penalties for practices that threaten patient safety. The following statement may be attributed to Joe Duffle, President, UFCW Local 1167:

“California’s Board of Pharmacy is only as effective as the penalty structure allows. After years of watching corporations laugh off the previous maximum patient-harming conduct fine of $5,000, with AB 1533 the Board can now hold corporations accountable. Increasing the maximum fine will incentivize corporations to change harmful practices like understaffing pharmacies and imposing performance based quotas on pharmacists. We’re proud Governor Newsom stood with California’s pharmacists and put patients first over profits by signing AB 1533 into law. We also want to thank the Business and Professions committee and their chairs Senator Richard Roth (D-Riverside) and Assemblymember Evan Low (D-Campbell) for ensuring the Board of Pharmacy has increased enforcement ability.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 7, 2021

Contact: Jenna Thompson, 949.246.1620, [email protected]