California Labor Federation Chief Officer Art Pulaski Announces Election of Kathryn Lybarger to Key Post
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 9, 2015
CONTACT: Steve Smith, California Labor Federation, 510-326-4644
Todd Stenhouse, (916) 397-1131, [email protected]
Lybarger, Leader of AFSCME 3299, to Serve as Labor Federation President
SACRAMENTO – The Chief Officer of the California Labor Federation — Executive Secretary-Treasurer Art Pulaski — announced today the election of AFSCME Local 3299 leader Kathryn Lybarger to President of the California Labor Federation. Lybarger succeeds Connie Leyva, who left her post with the Labor Federation following her election to the State Senate. Lybarger was elected by the Federation’s Executive Council this morning.
“Kathryn has proven time and again that she’s a tenacious advocate for the core ideals of California’s labor movement,” said Pulaski. “As a rank-and-file union member who rose to lead the largest union of University of California workers in the state, Kathryn epitomizes the values that guide our activism each and every day in support of all California workers. Her passion and commitment to advancing equality and social justice strengthens our movement, and we’re proud to have her join the Federation’s leadership team in this role.”
A Lead Gardener at UC Berkeley, Lybarger was elected President of AFSCME Local 3299 in 2011, and re-elected in 2014. As Local 3299’s President, she’s grown the union’s membership by 45%, secured historic new contracts for the University of California’s 22,000 Service and Patient Care workers, and helped lead the effort to secure additional state funds for higher education through 2012’s Proposition 30. She also serves as an International Vice President for the 1.6 million member American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), and was elected to the California Labor Federation’s Executive Council in 2012.
“I am honored by the opportunity to help lead the Federation’s efforts to promote justice, stronger communities, and more ladders into the middle class,” said Lybarger. “While we’ve come a long way, it’s clear that we still have big challenges in front of us—empowering more workers to organize, rebuilding our infrastructure, restoring vital public services, and addressing the growing crisis facing California’s public colleges and universities. I am looking forward to working with Executive Secretary-Treasurer Pulaski, the Executive Council, affiliates and members in ensuring the voices and aspirations of working families continue to guide our activism and shape public policy.”
As President of the California Labor Federation, Lybarger will preside over meetings of the Federation’s executive council and conventions, and joins Federation chief officer Pulaski on the leadership team. Lybarger will continue to serve as President of AFSCME 3299.
The California Labor Federation is composed of more than 1,200 local unions representing 2.1 million workers across California in manufacturing, retail, construction, hospitality, public sector, health care, entertainment and other industries. The Labor Federation is dedicated to promoting and defending the interests of working people and their families for the betterment of California’s communities. From legislative and electoral campaigns to grassroots organizing, our affiliates are actively engaged in every aspect of California’s economy.
AFSCME 3299 is the University of California’s largest union, and represents more than 22,000 Service and Patient Care Technical Workers at the system’s 10 campuses, five medical centers, numerous clinics, research laboratories and UC Hastings College of the Law.
