OUR PRIORITIES

TRANSPARENCY THAT BUILDS TRUST

Members deserve to know what's happening in our union. We believe openness and accountability should be part of everything we do, not just during elections or major events. Whether its finances, major decisions, strategic direction, or bargaining priorities, members should have access to information and meaningful opportunities to ask questions and provide input.

We've already helped create Union Finance Town Halls that bring members directly into the conversation, and we are committed to expanding those opportunities. As part of that commitment, we are publishing clear information about union processes, including how members can file Code of Conduct complaints and Member Representation complaints, what those processes look like, and what members can expect along the way.

Too often, members know a process exists, but don't know how to access it or what happens after they do. We believe information should be easy to find, easy to understand, and available to every member. Our goal is to create greater visibility, accessibility, and accountability throughout the organization. Strong unions are built on trust, and trust grows when members have a clear understanding of how decisions are made, how concerns are addressed, and how our union operates. We are committed to putting systems in place that strengthen the connection between SEIU 503 and the members it serves.

STRONG BARGAINING, STRONG CONTRACTS

Great contracts don't happen by accident. They are won through preparation, strategy, and member involvement. Our team brings real bargaining knowledge because we have spent years at bargaining tables fighting for workers. We understand what it takes to build campaigns that deliver results, and we are committed to raising standards across every sector of our union by securing better wages, stronger contracts, safer workplaces, and the respect workers deserve.

What sets our team apart is that we don't just talk about bargaining, we've done it. Every member of our slate has participated in bargaining their own contracts, advocating for the needs of workers and helping secure meaningful gains for members. In addition, all but one member of our team have also participated in bargaining for our union staff contracts, giving us a unique perspective on negotiations from both sides of the table.

That perspective matters. Effective bargaining requires more than passion; it requires preparation, strategic thinking, an understanding of labor relations, and the ability to anticipate challenges before they arise. Knowing how proposals are developed, how negotiations unfold, and how agreements are ultimately reached allows us to better position our union for success.

We are proud to be the only team in this election with a deep bench of leaders who have spent years in bargaining rooms fighting for workers. When employers come to the table with proposals that threaten wages, benefits, working conditions, or worker protections, our members deserve leaders who understand the process, recognize the tactics, and know how to build the leverage necessary to win. The future of our union will be shaped by the contracts we negotiate. In a time when workers continue to face rising costs, staffing shortages, privatization efforts, and attacks on collective bargaining rights, there is no substitute for leaders who know how to navigate negotiations and deliver results.

Bargaining is one of the most important things our union does. Our members deserve leaders who have been in the room, done the work, and are ready to continue fighting for strong contracts from day one.

BUILDING POWER THROUGH CAUCUSES

Our union is strongest when every member can find community, build relationships, and organize around the issues that matter most to them. Caucuses play a critical role in building that power. Member leaders create spaces where other members can come together around shared identities, experiences, interests, and concerns, while strengthening the collective voice of our union. Caucuses are more than discussion groups. They are leadership incubators, organizing spaces, and engines for change. They help members build relationships across sectors, develop up-and-coming leaders, identify emerging issues, and bring forward ideas that make our union more powerful.

One of the most important functions of our caucus program is ensuring that members have a direct pathway to influence the direction of our union. Caucuses regularly report to the Board of Directors, provide recommendations, identify barriers facing members, and offer solutions that help shape our work around equity, inclusion, belonging, organizing, and member engagement. Caucus voices help inform decisions and ensure that leadership remains connected to the diverse experiences of our membership.

We are committed to strengthening and supporting our existing caucuses while creating pathways for new caucuses to form when members identify gaps in representation or opportunities to organize. As our membership evolves, our caucus program should evolve with it. Members should feel empowered to come together, build community, identify challenges, and advocate for the changes they want to see. We're committed to investing in caucuses because by doing so, we're intentionally investing in leadership development, stronger member engagement, deeper inclusion, and a more representative union. When members come together, build relationships across sectors, and elevate one another's voices, our entire union becomes more of a powerhouse. We want every member to know there is a place for them in SEIU 503.

EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND BELONGING

This is the foundation of a strong, unified union. We believe every member, in every region and every job classification, should feel seen, respected, and supported by our union. That commitment has to show up not just in words, but in how we operate, make decisions, and hold ourselves accountable.

We are actively investing in this work. We have engaged the BOLD Center to conduct a full assessment of SEIU 503's structures, practices, and systems to help us identify where gaps exist and where we can do better. This isn't about checking a box for us, it's about taking an honest look at ourselves so we can strengthen the way our union serves it's members.

The assessment is focused on understanding how equity shows up in real practice, whether it be leadership pathways, decision-making processes, member access to information, and in how well our systems reflect the diversity and lived experiences of our membership. We are seeking outside expertise because we believe continuous improvement requires both internal commitment and external perspective. We're also deeply committed to using what we learn to close gaps, remove barriers, and strengthen belonging across our union. Equity also means responding to the real-world conditions our members face, which includes protecting immigrant communities, addressing the impacts of federal and workplace policies that disproportionately harm marginalized workers, and ensuring our union is prepared to stand up to attacks on civil and labor rights wherever they appear.

We want SEU 503 to be a place where members don't just participate, but rather a place where everyone belongs. We envision a union where differences are not just acknowledged but valued and where leadership reflects the membership we represent. This work is ongoing, and it requires honesty, and a whole lot of accountability. We are committed to doing that work, learning from it, and building a more inclusive union because of it. The assessment and planning are not the goal. The goal is action.

A RESPONSIVE UNION

Members shouldn't have to chase down answers, repeat themselves, or wonder whether their concerns are being heard. A powerhouse union isn't just defined by the contracts it wins, but by how it shows up for members every day in between bargaining cycles, campaigns, and elections.

SEIU 503 has faced real challenges in the past when it comes to communication, follow-through, and ensuring members feel connected to decision-making. We acknowledge that openly. It is part of why we are running. Members deserve a union that listens earlier, responds faster, and follows through more consistently.

We are committed to turning a new page.

When concerns are raised, members deserve timely attention and honest communication about next steps, even when the answer is still being developed. We believe accountability isn't a threat, it's a strength. When members can see how decisions are made, who is responsible for follow-through, and what progress is being made, trust grows. We aim to set a new standard for how we operate: Less distance between members and leadership, fewer barriers to getting answers, and a commitment to closing the loop on every issue that comes forward. We're focused on building a union that is not only a powerhouse in bargaining, but reliable in service, consistent in communication, and grounded in the belief that every member deserves to be heard, and to be taken seriously when they speak.

A TEAM READY TO LEAD

Our team isn't preparing to lead, we're already leading. This means there isn't a learning curve on Day One. No scrambling to understand the responsibilities. No waiting months to build relationships or figure out how the organization works. Our members deserve leaders who can hit the ground running, tackle challenges immediately, continue building on the progress already underway. We bring the knowledge, relationships, and commitment necessary to move our union forward from the moment we are elected. SEIU 503 is too important to pause for on-the-job training, and the reality is that working people do not have the luxury of waiting. There are too many fights directly in front of us.

Across the country, we are seeing coordinated attacks on unions and collective bargaining rights. Workers' rights are being challenged in legislatures, courtrooms, and workplaces. Federal agencies that protect workers have become political battlegrounds, and the future direction of institutions like the National Labor Relations Board will have real consequences for workers across the country. Immigrant communities face increasing uncertainty, public services are under attack, and the labor movement is being asked to meet challenges that grow more complex every year. Members need leaders who are ready to serve from the first day, and that's exactly what our team offers.

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