SEIU 1021 members from across Northern California came together in Vacaville on Friday, October 24, for an intense day of training and strategy. SEIU 1021 Executive Director David Canham and President Theresa Rutherford opened the event with urgent speeches about the growing threats facing working people in today’s political climate and the steps we must take now to defend our families and communities.

“In this moment, when those in power are working to strip us of our rights and divide our communities, we have no choice but to stand stronger together. Our union is our shield and our voice, and through training and organizing, we’re preparing to fight for every worker, every family, and every hard-won freedom,” said Rutherford.

In partnership with the Freedom Trainers, the session equipped members with proven global tactics for protecting democratic rights and freedoms. Union leaders and members strategized on how public sector workers can harness their collective power to defend their workplaces, neighbors, and one another as attacks on civil liberties escalate.

Members engaged in role-play scenarios to better understand their rights and prepare for real-world situations. Conversations focused on the alarming increase in federal enforcement activity in Northern California, including incidents in the Bay Area and Stockton, where immigrants have been detained at courthouses when they show up for their hearings, and protestors have been assaulted and arrested for exercising their right to speak out. 

These recent events made it even clearer that the struggle for worker justice cannot be separated from the broader fight for safety, dignity, and freedom in our communities.

As we continue to organize and stand together, this gathering underscored that SEIU 1021 is more than a union; we are a force for justice, equality, and the defense of every member of our communities.