David Huerta — Service Employees International Union, United Service Workers West

President

THE LATEST: During the pandemic, Huerta and SEIU United Service Workers West have fought for working families and safe workplaces. Early on, USWW made sure essential workers were safe and had proper personal protective equipment. Huerta led the fight to ensure all essential workers were on the state’s vaccine priority list.
BACKGROUND: Huerta was elected president of SEIU United Service Workers West in 2014. The organization represents 45,000 janitors, security officers, airport workers and other property service workers throughout California. Huerta was born and raised in L.A. County, and his father was a Teamster. He began organizing in the mid-’90s and was a leader in the 2000 Justice for Janitors movement for better wages and benefits. The strike was a historic moment for labor in Los Angeles and across the nation. The Obama administration recognized Huerta in 2014 as a National Champion of Change.
YEARS ON THE LA500: 6
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