Alameda Labor Council's 2022 UOYD Tribute Book

R E N N I D R A E Y E H T F O T S I N O I N U 2022

s e m i T f O t s r o W e h T n I t s e B r u O t A M P 0 3 : 8 M 0P 0 : 6 • 2 2 0 R 9, 2 E 1 T T N S E U C G Y U T I A FRIDAY, RIOTT OAKLAND C MAR

WELCOME LIZ ORTEGA-TORO Tonight, farm workers finished their 17th day of their 335-mile march from Delano to the State Capitol. They’re marching to win the right to vote for a union free from intimidation.

Their march inspires us. This week Firefighters and their International President marched with them. Martin Luther King III marched with them. AFSCME 3299’s President brought them new shoes. And hundreds of youngsters at Cesar Chavez Junior High walked out of school to walk with them.

But let’s remember...

It was our child workers winning collective bargaining rights that inspired the farm workers. And it was janitors who inspired child workers. And our teachers strike that inspires our city workers who inspire our hotel workers who inspire our grocery workers who inspire our nurses who inspire our construction workers who inspire our truck drivers and warehouse workers.

Workers inspire workers.

Workers inspire us.

Tomorrow, the farm workers will continue their march... and we will honor them by continuing our work.

Tonight, let's celebrate and enjoy with one another how we have all been our Best in the Worst of Times and, let's honor this year's outstanding awardees: Sister Wendy Bloom, Brother Andreas Cluver, and Brother Keith Gibbs!

In solidarity,

Liz Ortega-Toro Executive Secretary-Treasurer

2022 UNIONIST OF THE YEAR DINNER | At Our Best In The Worst Of Times

PROGRAM RECEPTION Music by Eric Grove, DJ, Member, AFSCME Local 2428

WELCOME Hon. Ricardo Lara, CA Insurance Commissioner, Emcee

DINNER PROGRAM & AWARDS PRESENTATION SPECIAL REMARKS Lorena Gonzalez-Fletcher, Executive Secretary-Treasurer, California Labor Federation

VIDEO PRESENTATION & REFLECTIONS At Our Best in the Worst of Times | Liz Ortega-Toro, Executive Secretary-Treasurer

LEGACY AWARD Keith Gibbs, CWA 9412

VOLUNTEER CHAMPION Wendy Bloom, CA Nurses Association

LABOR LEADER OF THE YEAR Andreas Cluver, Building & Construction Trades Council of Alameda County

CLOSING Liz Ortega-Toro, Executive Secretary-Treasurer

2022 UNIONIST OF THE YEAR DINNER | At Our Best In The Worst Of Times

SPONSORS DISTINGUISHED

CHAMPION

PARTNER

ADVOCATE

SUPPORTER

2022 UNIONIST OF THE YEAR DINNER | At Our Best In The Worst Of Times

UNIONIST OF THE YEAR ANDREAS CLUVER

Secretary-Treasurer, Alameda County Building & Construction Trades Council Andreas Ferreira Cluver is the Secretary-Treasurer for the Alameda County Building and Construction Trades Council and is also the Northern California Vice President for the State of California Building & Construction Trades Council.

In 1999 Brother Cluver began his work for the labor movement as a Business Representative for the Building Trades Council, where he represented Trades Workers at public Sector Agencies. During that time, he had the honor of working on the Port of Oakland Project Labor Agreement, and together with the legendary Victor Van Bourgh crafted the “Social Justice” components of that agreement, the first ever such language in a PLA. Given Brother Cluver’s International background and experience, in 2003 he went to work for the AFL-CIO’s Solidarity Center, eventually going to South Africa to serve as the Southern African Program Director. Among his many accomplishments in that position, Brother Cluver, in Partnership with the ITGLWF, established the first ever Textile Industry Councils in Malawi and Swaziland.

Returning from overseas, Brother Cluver worked for the IBEW’s partner NCECI, and was responsible for ensuring prevailing wage compliance in the Electrical Industry. The highlight of his work was uncovering the violations against NBC Contractors, which has become the poster child case for wage theft in the Bay Area.

Brother Cluver then returned to the Alameda County Building Trades Council, and in 2010 was elected Secretary-Treasurer and is now serving his fourth term. During his tenure, the ACBTC has negotiated an unprecedented number of PLAs, both private and public, representing many millions of workhours for our Building Trades members. In addition, the Council has secured many cutting-edge local policies ensuring the use of Union labor, including the BART PLA Policy for any development on the agency’s land, the first ever Citywide PLA (Berkeley) in Northern California, and the first ever Public Land PLA Policy in California for the City of Alameda. Additionally, the Building Trades launched its non-profit partner, Construction Trades Workforce Initiative (CTWI), that continues the long-term work of the Building Trades towards a representative and diverse membership.

Brother Cluver was appointed to the Port of Oakland Commission in 2016 and just finished his two year tenure as president. Prior to his work with the labor movement, Mr. Cluver had a diverse career from his time with the Oakland non-profit organization OCCUR, as a Planning Consultant with Berkeley Planning Associates, and as a Compliance Officer for the City of Oakland. Directly prior to joining the Building Trades, Brother Cluver worked two years in Mozambique as a Project Coordinator for a German Aid agency, on a post-war rehabilitation project that built schools, health clinics and demined roads in war ravaged areas of the country. Brother Cluver also spent over seven years working as a Stage Hand and Lighting Technician in many theaters and roadhouses.

Among his many Board and Commission appointments, in 2016 Brother Cluver was appointed to the Port of Oakland Commission, and until recently served for two years as the President. Mr. Cluver has a Bachelor’s in Latin American Studies and Anthropology from the University of Texas at Austin, and a Masters in City and Regional Planning from the University of California, Berkeley, Brother Cluver’s hobbies include being a Soccer fanatic (Go Gunners!) having played competitively up until his 50’s, playing drums to let off steam, and kicking it with the Family. Brother Cluver is married to Celia Adao, and together they have three lovely daughters, Daniella (23), Tatiana (19), and Adriana (16).

His unwavering commitment to working people and being a champion for their rights is why we are honored to present him as the 2022 Unionist of the Year!

2022 UNIONIST OF THE YEAR DINNER | At Our Best In The Worst Of Times

LEGACY AWARD A. KEITH GIBBS Keith is the President of Communications Workers of America Local 9412 (CWA Local 9412) which represents approximately 1,150 members in 7 states.

Keith also serves as the President and Legislative/Political Chair of the Northern California Nevada Council of CWA. Keith was born and raised in Corsicana, Texas. He moved to California in 1990, was hired by Pacific Bell, where he became a union member on his first day. He has been employed at the Phone Company for almost 32 years. He became a union steward at his current local in 2000 and serves the local in many capacities including; Organizer, Legislative Chair, Mobilizer, Picket Captain, Vice-President, Executive Vice-President, and has served as Bargaining Chair on many of the Local’s contracts.

Keith is the first African American to hold the President position at CWA Local 9412. In addition to running his local, some of his professional accomplishments and memberships include: • • • • • • • • • •

CWA Minority Leadership Institute Graduate Worker Occupational Safety and Health Specialist Training Instructor for new Union Stewards and refresher courses California Democratic Party Delegate 18th Assembly District (5 Terms) Alameda Labor Council Executive Board Member (2005-current) Member of CWA Minority Caucus Member of Coalition of Black Trade Unionists - NorCal Chapter Mentor/Teammate OK Program for Young African American Males Original Member of CWA’s Next Generation Committee Recently appointed to the CWA National Executive Board as the Diversity At-Large West Region Member

Keith has been married to his beautiful wife Syreeta for 24 years. They have 3 children, Nakia, Keianni and KJ. Keith is a huge fan of America’s Team the Dallas Cowboys and in his spare time there’s nothing he likes better than being on a golf course somewhere.

The Labor Council is proud to present him with this year’s Legacy Award for his outstanding commitment to our Council, its work, and members.

2022 UNIONIST OF THE YEAR DINNER | At Our Best In The Worst Of Times

Volunteer Champion WENDY BLOOM Wendy Bloom had a 35 year career as a Registered Staff Nurse at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland. She cared for the highly vulnerable populations of immunocompromised children with cancer, sickle cell anemia, and other chronic health conditions. Wendy was an active union leader at the hospital as a member of the California Nurses Association. She has served both as a Delegate to the Alameda County Labor Council and a Delegate to the California Democratic Party since 2008.

Currently she is an elected member of the Alameda County Democratic Party’s Central Committee from Assembly District 15. For 8 years, Wendy served as a commissioner on the city of Berkeley’s Commission on Labor. She has worked on a number of political campaigns and can always be counted on to knock doors and phone bank.

Throughout Wendy’s tenure as a nurse and an activist she has mentored many youth to become leaders in our community. Her young patients knew her as someone that showed up for them outside of her role as a nurse. She organized a rally in support of a patient on the precipice of deportation, was a camp nurse at Sickle Cell Camp, a mobilizer to protect the future of Oakland Children’s Hospital and someone who took those texts and calls from her “kids” after work. Many call her “Mama Wendy” and are in touch with her post retirement.

During the pandemic, as a fierce advocate for access to the Covid-19 vaccine, Wendy volunteered giving injections through the Alameda County Public Health system and helped organize a pop-up vaccine clinic for the Alameda Labor Council. She worked tirelessly to aid all who anxiously were trying to get the vaccine when appointments were in short supply.

Since her retirement from Oakland Children’s Hospital, Wendy has been working as the Organizing Director for the public health non-profit ProtectUs. She is helping to shepherd legislation through the CA legislature that will protect our community from infectious diseases. In her role there she is working alongside two youth lead organizations; Teens For Vaccines and GenUP. This is a way to continue her legacy of healthcare advocacy partnered with youth mentoring.

She’s also a role model to her 3 grown daughters and her 4 grandchildren. She’s a hobby knitter and seamstress and is always happy to teach others those skills.

Tonight Wendy receives this award for her commitment to Labor and our broader community. She is proud to be known as someone that shows up and gets the job done!

2022 UNIONIST OF THE YEAR DINNER | At Our Best In The Worst Of Times

EMCEE RICARDO LARA Ricardo Lara serves as California’s Insurance Commissioner. Following his eight years of elected service in California’s Assembly and Senate, he made history in 2018 as the first openly gay person to ever be elected to statewide office in California history. Raised by a factory worker and a seamstress — Venustiano and Dolores — Ricardo’s humble beginnings guide his work as he leads the state’s largest consumer protection agency.

As your Insurance Commissioner, Ricardo has taken on tough fights and won for working families — holding the insurance industry accountable while fighting for health care for all, helping California consumers during the unprecedented devastation of the COVID-19 pandemic, and assisting California wildfire victims in rebuilding their lives.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Ricardo has directed insurance companies to return health care and auto insurance premiums. His actions resulted in cost savings of over $2.4 billion for California drivers so far.

In response to the climate crisis, Ricardo continues to lead efforts to protect Californians from the impacts of climate change — including wildfires, floods and heatwaves — by pushing the insurance industry to be part of the solution, not part of the problem. Ricardo wrote the nation’s first climate insurance law, SB 30, and following unprecedented wildfire disasters, he used his authority to protect more than 2 million policyholders from non-renewal when insurers tried to flee the marketplace. He created the nation’s first Climate and Sustainability Branch within the Department of Insurance, and also sponsored legislation to allow wildfire survivors to better access their benefits. Ricardo recently unveiled plans to make insurance companies provide discounts to homeowners and businesses who harden their homes and communities to wildfire danger.

As a State Senator, Ricardo authored legislation that would create a single-payer health care system for California and he wrote the Health4All Kids Act — which now covers all California children with full-scope Medi-Cal regardless of immigration status. As your Insurance Commissioner, he continues to lead efforts to help reduce the number of uninsured Californians, strengthen our clinics and public health system, and lower costs for all. Ricardo also serves as Co-chair of the Special Committee on Race and Insurance within the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, where he works with his peers to find solutions to address widespread health disparities.

Ricardo is ready to continue the fight for stronger consumer rights and wants all Californians to know: He’ll always be on your side.

Insurance Commissioner Lara was born in Los Angeles County, California and earned a BA in Journalism and Spanish with a minor in Chicano Studies from San Diego State University. He also currently serves as the President of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO).

2022 UNIONIST OF THE YEAR DINNER | At Our Best In The Worst Of Times

The Officers of Teamsters Local 70 Congratulates the Alameda Labor Council's Unionist of the Year Labor Leader Awardee Andreas Cluver Legacy Awardee Keith Gibbs Volunteer Champion Awardee Wendy Bloom

CONGRATULATIONS TO BROTHER CLUVER 2022 Unionist of the Year Dinner! and, the other 2022 Honorees Keith Gibbs and Wendy Bloom Together, we move the economic engine forward for all working people!

Your sisters and brothers in Contra Costa!

"Proud to Partner with Labor!

Congratulations, Keith Gibbs Legacy Award Wendy Bloom Volunteer Champion Andreas Cluver Unionist of the Year

OFFICERS Keith Brown, President Martha Kuhl, 1st Vice President Yeon Park, 2nd Vice President Lawrence Abbott, Sergeant-At-Arms Howard Egerman, Trustee Linda Stanley, Trustee Yvonne Williams, Trustee Liz Ortega-Toro, Executive Secretary-Treasurer

EXECUTIVE COMITTEE Nathaniel Arnold Kat Bedford Doug Bloch Greg Bonato Rosemarie Boothe-Bey Andreas Cluver Don Crosatto Cloudell Douglas Yulisa Elenes Maggie Feder Rich Fierro Chris Finn Al Fortier Keith Gibbs Zach Goldman Eugenia Gutierrez Mike Henneberry Chuck Leonard Maliha Noamani Omar Sabeh Kyle Sater Jennifer Shanoski Randall West Cindy Zecher

2022 UNIONIST OF THE YEAR DINNER | At Our Best In The Worst Of Times