Monday, October 20, SEIU 1021’s San Francisco union hall turned into a studio for a live town hall on why it’s so important for union members and working people to vote YES on California Proposition 50. Congresswoman Lateefah Simon joined SEIU 1021 President Theresa Rutherford and Vice President of Politics Ramsés Teón-Nichols in person, while SEIU California and USWW President David Huerta and SEIU 221 President Crystal Irving joined as panelists via Zoom.

About 400 SEIU 1021 members and staff attended on Zoom, with another 20 or so in the office studio and a dozen more watching from the overflow room in the union hall.

Alameda Health System worker and SEIU 1021 Budget and Finance Committee member Cynthia Johnson, who attended in person, asked the first question: What is Prop 50 and why is it on our ballot?

“Prop 50 is an opportunity for the people of the state of California to tell the rest of the nation, we will not stand by while you take our voting rights,” said Congresswoman Lateefah Simon. “One, we will not stand by while you lead this nation in totalitarianism or fascism, meaning that we don’t have a voice. We’re not dealing with that. And we are actually going to recreate what you tear down.

“So what Prop 50 basically is asking the voters is, will you be in support of the California legislature making it so that fight fire with fire. If what these fools are doing in Washington, DC, is stealing seats, we’re going to the voters and say, ‘We’ve got to adjust our own maps to rise up and to make sure we get the right folks elected to take Congress, so that we can save healthcare, so that we can save child care, so that we could save prevailing wages, so that we can save every civil right that we fought for. It’s that simple. Just think about Prop 50 being one tool in the in really the fight to stop this rail to evil.

“We know the power of the people. We have to be strategic. Some of us are really good at knocking doors. Some of us are really good at—like my mom—gossiping in the wash house. Some of us are really good at being lawyers and attorneys. Some of us are working three shifts, but that’s the best time to organize. So when we’re talking about Prop 50, we’re talking about taking back our power from an administration that sees us as powerless. Your tool is what’s in your mailbox right now. Prop 50 is about giving us at least the opportunity to fight for our power before they collapse everything that we fought for. It’s about our freedom.” 

SEIU California President David Huerta, who was assaulted and unjustly detained by ICE on June 6 as he exercised his First Amendment rights as an observer of ICE raids, connected what had happened to him and why Prop 50 is so important. 

“It started in Los Angeles. You’ve seen it happen in D.C.; you’re seeing it happen in real time in Chicago, and now they’re sending troops into Portland and Memphis. Now they’ve occupied six cities in our country. The parallels are the reason Prop 50 is so important.

“Each one of those incidents in each of those cities is an attack against our democracy. An attack against our constitution. The greatest attack on our constitution happened on January 6 when the supporters of Donald Trump tried to nullify a lawful election. What he’s trying to do now through the state of Texas—through Abbott, who’s basically his shill—the legislature is trying to make a decision for all the constituents in Texas to rig this election for this president so he can keep his power.

“We’re going to fight fire with fire. The biggest difference between us and Texas is that it’s the people who are going to make the decision to respond to the rigging of the election in 2026. What they did to me was an all-out assault on the First Amendment. What they’re trying to do is rig the elections against us in Texas; it’s an all-out assault on our constitution and our ability to hold fair elections. In California, we’re doing it differently. Voters in California are going to decide. That’s why I’m so proud of the work we’re doing as SEIU. we’re going to win this thing and send a clear message that we’re united to preserve our democracy, our constitution, and free and fair elections in our country.”

SEIU 221 President Crystal Irving emphasized the importance of this election in giving us a better chance to keep fighting for the people. “We’ll never stop fighting, never stop working until working families win and have what they deserve in this country. We will not stop until we bring our vision for working families to life. The fight becomes increasingly harder if we do not pass Prop 50. We must pass Prop 50.

“One of the things we like to talk about in San Diego is, we don’t believe in electing saviors. If there’s anything that’s clear, it’s that nobody is coming to save us. We have to save ourselves and we have to save each other.

“We do believe in electing the terrain we fight on. It’s about choosing the terrain we fight on. And we want the most favorable terrain that will allow us to win. Prop 50 will change the terrain in a way that gives us more of a fighting chance to bring our vision for working people to life.”

In SEIU 1021 President Theresa Rutherford’s closing remarks, she stressed how Prop 50 could impact the day-to-day lives of working people in the U.S. “When we look at where we are in the country, this is not about Democrats versus Republicans. This is rich versus poor. This is all of us versus the billionaires.

“The cuts that we’re going to be experiencing in 2026 and which we’re beginning to experience right now—the whole purpose is to cut over a trillion dollars from Medicaid so that that money can be put in the pockets of billionaires. In this country we’re not playing that. We’re not going to sit by and watch working people suffer in order to make wealthy people rich. 

“Whether you’re a Democrat or Republican, this is about fighting for your family. What we’re talking about is food on the table. Taking care of your family. Being able to send your kids to school. Being able to take care of yourself if you get sick. Prop 50 is about that. Vote yes on Prop 50 for your family, for your livelihood, for your children, for your future, for your right to have a voice in the United States. Vote for democracy. Vote yes on Prop 50!”

SEIU 1021 Vice President of Politics Ramsés Teón-Nichols, who was the moderator for the town hall, reminded members not just to vote, but to make sure others do too. Go find your ballot in your pile of mail. Vote yes on Prop 50, get it back in the envelope, seal, sign, and turn it in. How are you going to return your ballot? Use a drop box. There are drop boxes all over our communities throughout California.

“And just as importantly, think of at least five other people you can talk to in the next couple of days—coworkers, family, friends, anyone who might not be thinking of this right now. Remind them to vote yes and return their ballot.”

Have you returned your ballot yet? Find a drop box near you here!