It’s Time to #Listen2Workers!

Category: News

June 10th, 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media contact:
Shaleeka Powell, shaleeka@endpovertyinca.org, (916) 907-4456


End Poverty in California Launches Campaign With Support of SEIU Members to Bring Working Class Voices Back to Politics
#Listen2Workers Seeks to Rebuild Trust in Government and Drive Policy Making Based on Real Stories 

SACRAMENTO, Calif. ​​– June 10, 2025 – End Poverty in California (EPIC) is launching #Listen2Workers, a dynamic new grassroots campaign designed to bring the voices of working-class individuals to the forefront of policymaking. Members of SEIU in California will participate in and support the project. Through intimate storytelling, digital amplification, and community-powered events, the campaign shares a simple message: show up for the working class, listen regularly, and develop policies that reflect their wants and needs.

#Listen2Workers launches today with four powerful, shareable videos of SEIU California workers speaking to their living and working conditions, and what they need from their elected officials. The campaign has also confirmed several state lawmakers, including Sens. María Elena Durazo (D-Los Angeles), Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara), and Lola Smallwood-Cuevas (D-Los Angeles); and Asms. Sade Elhawary (D-Los Angeles), Matt Haney (D-San Francisco), and Buffy Wicks (D-East Bay) to participate in conversations with workers  and other campaign activities. 

The campaign comes as trust in government is steadily declining, and less than half of working-class people still believe in the American dream, including just 42% of Republicans earning less than $47,900. Moreover, the 2024 electorate delivered a clear message to elected officials: You must connect with the working class.

“The myth that we can simply pull ourselves up by our bootstraps is crumbling,” said EPIC President Devon Gray. “Workers are saying in no uncertain terms that despite long hours or even multiple jobs, they are still struggling to pay for the basics like food, housing and healthcare, much less get ahead and build wealth. #Listen2Workers highlights what people are experiencing in the workplace and in their lives while giving elected officials the opportunity to show up and connect with them. This is the best way to craft policies that respond to worker needs, transform lives, and ultimately rebuild trust with government. ” 

“We applaud every effort to bring the voices of workers into the public square to drive a new agenda that centers our experiences and voices and boldly meets our needs,” said Tia Orr, Executive Director of SEIU California. “Elected officials with so-called liberal values are a dime a dozen; workers need leaders who will make the tough choices to change our material conditions, even over the strong opposition of those who want to hoard their wealth and protect their privilege. That starts with deep engagement and listening.”

About #Listen2Workers 

Workers across California are struggling as wages fail to keep up with the rising cost of living. Many juggle multiple jobs while facing shrinking trust in political leadership to address their challenges. Since 2021, EPIC has pioneered a model of deep listening in policy making. They show up in counties across the Golden State, listen to people experiencing poverty or near-poverty, and use those stories to shape policy. As a result, EPIC has helped drive California’s landmark baby bonds, guaranteed income, and safety net reforms. 

In response to the growing divide between the political establishment and communities they serve, EPIC is bringing this prowess into the labor arena in coordination with SEIU CA which represents more than 750,000 careworkers, security officers, janitors, nurses, and many other blue collar workers; , Caring Across Generations; and BlackECE,. #Listen2Workers will work to restore the promise of the American dream by advocating for policies that help people make ends meet and get ahead, uplift workers, and ensure their dignity and rights are respected.

#Listen2Workers will: 

  • Create Proximity: Elected officials will sit down with workers for in-depth interviews, learning firsthand about their lives at home, in the workplace, their families, challenges and ambitions.
  • Amplify Real Voices: A coordinated digital campaign will share authentic videos, writings, and testimonials from union and non-union workers across industries.
  • Support a Movement: The campaign will create safe, inspiring spaces where workers can share their stories with a community that is actively listening.
  • Promote Direct Action: Public forums and policy-generating sessions will allow constituents to propose solutions directly to legislators and challenge those who stand in the way of positive change.

Meet the Workers Behind the Campaign

At the heart of #Listen2Workers are powerful, personal stories:

  • Marina, a nursing student and Chipotle worker in Sacramento, struggles to afford rent and tuition while being denied benefits due to her immigration status. Despite being a union member, she sees too many coworkers afraid to speak up—and too many politicians afraid to ask the right questions. Marina’s video can be found here.
  • Curtis, a father, veteran defense contractor, and hospital security guard in Lincoln, CA, embodies hard work and sacrifice. From defense logistics to healthcare security, he’s navigated a life of invisible labor, always hoping to give his children the chance to dream bigger. Curtis’ video can be found here.
  • Jameel, a longtime security officer at Kaiser Permanente, stands on the frontlines of patient protection. Yet, despite his crucial role, he feels undervalued and underpaid. Jameel calls for action on housing, transportation, and labor rights—not just words from politicians seeking votes. Jameel’s’ video can be found here. 
  • Marcella, a childcare provider in Fresno, CA, has worked tirelessly for 29 years giving children the care and attention they need, and working families peace of mind that their kids are in a safe place. Now she is fighting to maintain the retirement and health benefits that these workers so recently secured through decades of organizing. Marcella’s video can be found here.
  • Lourdes, a mother and fast food worker in San Jose, resigned as a manager because she was ordered to give co-workers warnings when they took sick days. She still works in fast food and a second job to try to make ends meet. She advocates for jobs that provide reliable hours and a wage that meets the cost of living. She dreams of owning a home for her and her two children.

LEGISLATOR QUOTES

”Workers are the backbone of our communities, yet too often their voices are ignored in policymaking. This effort is about ensuring their voices, concerns, and ideas are heard, respected, and acted upon,” said Senator María Elena Durazo (D-Los Angeles). “When we center the experiences of working people, we create policies that build a stronger, more just California for everyone.”

“As a legislator I know how important it is that we listen to our workers, learn from their experiences, and use these conversations to inform our work in the Capitol,” said Senator Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara). “It is a challenge to fix what we cannot see and the #Listen2Workers campaign provides us with the opportunity to shine a light on workers who are the backbone of our communities and a driving force behind our economy.” 

“We need to stay focused on what creates real change—good jobs, strong wages, and clear pathways to build lasting wealth,” said Senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas (D-Los Angeles). “As a labor organizer and former journalist, I know firsthand how powerful it is when we lift up workers’ voices and turn their stories into action. Centering their experiences leads to policies that don’t just respond to need but build opportunity. That is the work I am proud to lead and why I stand with a campaign rooted in the power and potential of working people.”

“The communities I represent are truly struggling with affordability,” said Asm. Sade Elhawary (D-Los Angeles). The cost of living keeps rising and folks are choosing between paying to keep a roof over their heads or putting food on the table. I believe our job as legislators is not to do the work  for our constituents, but with them. That’s why I’m proud to be part of a campaign that’s listening to workers, uplifting their stories, and responding with a community-centered agenda.”

“Good policy starts by actually listening to workers,” said Assemblymember Matt Haney (D-San Francisco). “And when you talk to the people doing the work, it’s clear what they need: better pay, real healthcare, and a path to retirement. These aren’t luxuries; they’re the basics of a strong economy. That’s why I’m backing the #Listen2Workers campaign. We need more worker voices at the table shaping solutions to our state’s economic problems.”

“I come from a working class family. I understand the importance of speaking with—and, more importantly, listening to—workers to learn how we can best address their challenges and implement their ideas for change. We need ideas that are not just about workers but are driven by workers,” said Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (D-East Bay). “The #Listen2Workers campaign is the conversation we need to be having right now. It facilitates real, productive discussions so that we can respond to workers’ needs and create policy that actually works for California’s workers.”

PARTNER QUOTES

“We can’t create meaningful policy without listening to the people most impacted by it,” said Nicole Jorwic, Chief Program Officer, Caring Across Generations. Too often, the voices of workers, especially those on the frontline in care roles, are left out of policy making, even though they make all other work possible. #Listen2Workers is an opportunity to advance the policy solutions workers need and deserve.”

“Childcare providers and early educators are paid poverty wages, and therein lies the problem,” said Tonia McMillian, Woman Who Shakes Things Up with Black ECE. “These are some of the hardest working people who keep our economy flowing, and give parents the ability to go to work knowing that their children are safe and learning. It’s an embarrassment, we can do better, and the #Listen2Workers campaign will help lift up voices and stories so we will do better.”

To support the campaign and uplift the stories that matter:

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About End Poverty in California (EPIC): 

Founded by former Mayor of Stockton, California, Michael Tubbs, End Poverty in California (EPIC) is a nonprofit organization that brings together local leaders, advocates, policymakers, funders, and communities to reduce the number of Californians in poverty and to create economic opportunity. Through narrative change, bold policy innovation, and unique partnerships with key stakeholders, EPIC is working to create new systems that promote economic mobility for all. To learn more, please visit endpovertyinca.org and follow us on Instagram, X, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

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