As of today, 138,973 of our members across the country have already cast their ballots in this election!
In California, we have an opportunity to flip as many as seven House seats, dramatically shifting the balance of power in favor of working families across the country. Hundreds of thousands of SEIU members in California have requested mail ballots, and it’s likely that a number of them were inspired to do so by Local 99 member and DREAMer Cecilia Diaz.
“When I was two years old, my mother brought my sister and me to the United States fleeing domestic violence,” says Cecilia. “She raised us by working hard every single day and she has made sure we’ve grown up healthy and happy.”
Cecilia works as a Special Education Assistant in the Los Angeles Unified School District. Thanks to President Obama, who issued the executive order for DACA, Cecilia has been able to go to school and work. Cecilia’s mother is close to getting her permanent residency but worries that under the Trump administration, that could change. That’s one of the reasons Cecilia is encouraging SEIU members to vote and get involved in election work.
“Even though I can’t vote, I’m doing my part to encourage others to vote,” she says. “I’m speaking with my fellow union members and talking to people in my community about their rights. Politics has touched my family and me in so many ways. And I know there are other families and students I work with who are in the same situation. I let people know that in order to make big changes, we have to start in our communities.”
Cecilia, you make our union–and our country–stronger.
