September 28 - 29 • San Diego

What you need to know

What: Thank you for attending our 2024 convention! UPTE members from across California came together at San Diego Mission Bay Resort from Saturday, September 28, to Sunday, September 29, 2024. Every year, UPTE’s conventions are the perfect opportunity to democratically decide how best to set the course over the next year. With contract negotiations currently underway with the University of California and at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 2025 is shaping up to be a big year for all of us. As a member-led union, it’s up to us to make UPTE a fighting force for employees across the University of California system, California’s community colleges, and the United States Department of Energy labs. Our convention will also include training and education workshops on how to build our union.

Where: San Diego Mission Bay Resort

Address: 1775 E Mission Bay Dr., San Diego, CA 92109

When: Saturday, September 28, 2024 - Sunday, September 29, 2024 (see convention agenda below)

Agenda

  • Registration, St. Tropez Ballroom Foyer: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

  • Breakfast, Bayside Terrace: 9:00 am - 11:00 am

  • Welcome and Business Meeting - Plenary Session, St. Tropez Ballroom: 11:00 am - 12:30 pm

    • UPTE Welcome - Matias Campos, UPTE Executive Vice President, UPTE UC San Francisco Chapter Co-Chair

    • CWA Welcome:

      • Margaret Cook, Communications Workers of America (CWA) Vice-President of the Public, Healthcare, and Education Workers Sector

      • Frank Arce, CWA District 9 (California, Hawaii, and Nevada) Vice President

    • San Diego Welcome - Doug Moore, San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council President

    • Credentials Committee:

      • Amy Fletcher, UPTE Treasurer, UPTE UC Davis Chapter Co-Chair

      • Judd Laraway, UPTE Unit Representative

      • Lea Bishop, UPTE Unit Representative

    • Rules Committee:

      • Ursula Quinn, UPTE Vice President, UPTE UC Los Angeles Chapter Co-Chair

      • Danielle Daniels, UPTE Unit Representative

      • Jamie Gardner, UPTE Unit Representative

    • President’s Report: Dan Russell, UPTE President

    • Treasurer’s Report: Amy Fletcher, UPTE Treasurer, UPTE UC Davis Chapter Co-Chair

    • Trustees’ Report:

      • Tim Wilson, UPTE Unit Representative

      • Jessica Treiber, UPTE Workplace Representative

      • Shanna Vela, Butte College Part Time Faculty

    • Guest speaker: Cecily Myart-Cruz, United Teachers Los Angeles President

  • Lunch, Bayside Terrace: 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm

  • Our Power to Win: Preparing to Strike, St. Tropez Ballroom: 1:45 pm - 2:30 pm

  • Overcoming Tough Strike Conversations Breakouts, St. Tropez Ballroom: 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm

    • University of California (including Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory): St. Tropez Ballroom

    • California Community Colleges (including Butte College, College of the Sequoias, and Mt. San Jacinto College): Las Palmas

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory: Las Palmas

  • Break and Hotel Check-In, St. Tropez Ballroom Foyer: 3:30 pm - 4:00 pm

  • Plenary Session, St. Tropez Ballroom: 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm

    • Trustee nominations 

    • Constitution/Resolutions Committee:

      • Amelia Cutten, UPTE Unit Representative

      • Jaret Skonieczny, UPTE UC San Diego Chapter Co-Chair, UPTE Unit Representative

      • Matias Campos, UPTE Executive Vice President

  • Dinner, Garden by the Bay: 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

  • Hospitality Reception, Plaza del Sol: 9:00 pm - 11:00 pm

Saturday, September 28

  • Breakfast, Bayside Terrace: 8:00 am - 9:00 am

  • Plenary Session, St. Tropez Ballroom: 9:00 am - 9:30 am

    • Guest Speaker: Lorena Gonzalez, California Federation of Labor Unions, AFL–CIO President

    • Guest Speaker: María Elena Durazo, member of the California State Senate, 26th senatorial district

    • Guest Speaker: Dr. Darshana Patel, candidate for California’s 76th State Assembly district

  • Campus Breakouts: Getting to Supermajority on Strike Commitments, St. Tropez Ballroom: 9:30 am - 10:30 am

    • Breakout rooms to be posted at Convention

  • Break and Hotel Check-Out, St. Tropez Ballroom Foyer: 10:30 am - 11:00 am

  • Workshop Session 1: 11:00 am - 12:00 pm

    • How Our Stories Can Move Others Into Action: Las Palmas

      • Lea Bishop, UC San Diego

      • Victoria Ente, UC Davis

      • Maryam Azizadah, UC Los Angeles

    • Building Vision, Building Leadership: Marseilles

      • Samantha Warsh, UC San Diego

      • Matt Stephen, UC San Francisco

    • At Risk-How UC Endangers Its Workers and Patients: Portofino:

      • Shawn Singh, UC San Francisco

      • Jon de Paul Dunbar, UC Davis

      • Kayla Dollar, UC Davis

  • Lunch, Bayside Terrace: 12:00 pm - 12:45 pm

  • Workshop Session 2: 12:45 pm - 1:45 pm

    • Labor & Community Relations 101: Las Palmas

      • Amy Fletcher, UC Davis

      • Juliette Suarez, UC San Francisco

    • Cell Phone Photography & Social Media: Marseilles

      • Thor Swift, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

    • Know Your Rights On Strike: Portofino

      • Matias Campos, UPTE Executive Vice President

  • Title-Specific Breakouts: Getting to Supermajority on Strike Commitments, St. Tropez Ballroom: 1:45 - 2:30 pm

  • Closing Remarks and Adjournment, St. Tropez Ballroom: 2:30 pm - 3:00 pm

    • Trustee Election

    • Resetting UC’s Priorities: Dan Russell, UPTE President

Sunday, September 29


Speakers

Margaret Cook, Communications Workers of America (CWA) vice-president of the Public, Healthcare, and Education Workers Sector

Margaret Cook is the first Afro-Latina to head the office of CWA Vice-President of the Public, Healthcare, and Education Workers Sector. Elected by an overwhelming majority to national office in July 2019, she provides representation to over 130,000 union members in the United States and Puerto Rico. The mission is to build the power of public sector, healthcare, and education workers, and to mobilize a national agenda for economic justice and democracy. She is achieving these goals by organizing, strategic campaigning, education and training, and mobilization. Under her leadership, the CWA PHEW Sector unites voices of members from across CWA in action for the common good. A long-time union fighter from the age of 21, Margaret showed true bravery in CWA United Campus Workers – Tennessee Local 3865 where she helped to lead the fight for $15 at the University of Memphis. Her local won that battle in 2021. She is a very active member of the CWA National Executive Board and several important sub-committees. She is a very active member of CLUW, which is the Coalition for Labor Union Women. With family roots in the Dominican Republic and Memphis, TN, Margaret is also very proud to be a third-generation union member.

Frank Arce, Communications Workers of America (CWA) vice-president of District 9 (California, Hawaii, and Nevada)

Frank Arce serves as the vice president of Communications Workers of America (CWA) District 9, a role to which he was elected by delegates at the 77th CWA Convention in 2019. In this capacity, he supports and oversees CWA locals across California, Hawaii, and Nevada, including UPTE CWA 9119. His leadership is instrumental in advancing the rights and interests of workers in these states, particularly in the communications and media sectors. With a career deeply rooted in labor advocacy, Arce has dedicated himself to improving working conditions and negotiating fair contracts for union members. His commitment to solidarity and collective bargaining has significantly impacted the lives of countless workers. He is known for his strategic organizing approach and ability to unite members toward common goals. A focus on member engagement and empowerment marks Arce’s tenure. He emphasizes the importance of education and training for union members to adapt to the rapidly evolving industry landscape. Under his guidance, District 9 continues to tackle challenges such as job security, workplace safety, and equitable compensation. His leadership extends beyond administrative duties; Arce is a vocal advocate for workers’ rights locally and nationally. He collaborates with other labor leaders and organizations to strengthen the overall labor movement. Frank Arce’s dedication and strategic vision continue to drive positive change for workers within CWA District 9 and beyond.

Doug Moore, president of the San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council

Doug Moore is a prominent labor leader and advocate for social justice, currently serving as president of the San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council, international vice president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), and executive director of the United Domestic Workers of America (UDW/AFSCME 3930). With over 140,000 members under his leadership, Moore has dedicated his career to improving the lives of in-home care providers and advancing workers’ rights. His background includes leadership roles with the Communication Workers of America (CWA) and AFL-CIO, where he built member-driven solid unions and advocated for fair labor practices. Moore’s efforts extend beyond labor, focusing on broader social issues like racial, economic, and gender justice. He has led significant campaigns, including a historic march for public education in California and a successful initiative to impose term limits on the San Diego County Board of Supervisors. He has been recognized as Labor Leader of the Year for his dedication to building alliances with diverse communities and advancing workers’ causes. Moore’s commitment to intersectionality and social justice inspires labor movements, emphasizing solidarity in the fight for equality and dignity for all workers.

Lorena Gonzalez, president of the California Federation of Labor Unions, AFL–CIO

Lorena is the first woman and person of color to serve as president of the California Federation of Labor Unions, AFL–CIO, taking on the role in July 2022. Her career in labor advocacy began with the San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council, where she distributed food to striking workers before rising to Political Director and Secretary-Treasurer of the San Diego-Imperial Counties Labor Council. Elected to the California State Assembly in 2013, Lorena gained national recognition for her progressive, practical legislation. In 2014, she introduced a landmark paid sick leave law for all Californians. In 2016, she authored the first law in the U.S. to mandate overtime pay for farmworkers. Her legislative work also included protections for janitorial workers against sexual assault and labor rights for professional cheerleaders, both featured in PBS documentaries. Lorena’s advocacy culminated in the passage of Assembly Bill 5 in 2019, protecting workers from misclassification and wage theft, followed by a 2021 law holding employers criminally accountable for wage theft. She also introduced the nation’s first law safeguarding workers against Amazon’s dangerous warehouse quotas. Lorena is a Stanford, Georgetown, and UCLA Law graduate and was the first Latina to chair California’s legislative Appropriations Committee.

María Elena Durazo, member of the California State Senate, 26th senatorial district

María Elena Durazo, born into a family of migrant farmworkers, experienced firsthand the hardships of laborers while traveling across California and Oregon with her family. Despite these challenges, she graduated from St. Mary’s College in 1975 and became involved in the Chicano Movement. Her labor career began as an organizer for the International Ladies Garment Workers Union (merged into the Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees [UNITE], and later UNITE HERE), and she later earned a law degree from the People’s College of Law in 1985. In 1987, María Elena led a successful campaign to reform UNITE HERE Local 11, making the union more inclusive for its Latino members by implementing bilingual meetings and empowering workers to negotiate their contracts. By 2004, she became Executive Vice President of UNITE HERE International after the merger of the UNITE and HERE unions. María Elena served as Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee and National Co-Chair of Barack Obama’s 2008 Presidential Campaign. From 2006 to 2014, she was the first woman to serve as Secretary-Treasurer of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO. María Elena has also held various civic roles, including appointments to Los Angeles’ Airport Commission and the California State Coastal Commission. She has two sons, Mario and Michael, with her late husband, union leader Miguel Contreras.

Dr. Darshana Patel, candidate for California’s 76th State Assembly district

Dr. Darshana Patel is a research scientist, school board president, community leader, and candidate for California’s 76th State Assembly district. Born to immigrant parents, Darshana moved to California as a teenager. After losing her mother at age 14, she was inspired to pursue a career in health research, earning a B.A. in Biochemistry from Occidental College and a Ph.D. in Biophysics from UC Irvine. Following a successful career in biotechnology research, she sought new ways to give back to her community. In 2016, Darshana ran for the Poway Unified School District Board during financial turmoil. As a Trustee, she worked to restore fiscal responsibility and effective governance, leading the district through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. She was reelected by a wide margin in 2020. Beyond the School Board, Darshana serves on the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs and is President of the San Diego County School Boards Association. Active in local civic organizations, Darshana has held leadership roles in the Rancho Peñasquitos Planning Board and Town Council, among others. She lives in San Diego with her husband and three daughters, continuing her dedication to public service.

Cecily Myart-Cruz, president of United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA)

Cecily Myart-Cruz, an educator and activist, is the first woman of color to lead United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA). With 28 years of teaching experience, she has been a strong advocate for educational equity, particularly in her recent role at Angeles Mesa Elementary. Prior to her presidency, Cecily served as UTLA West Area Chair and Vice President of the National Education Association (NEA), where she championed issues such as reducing standardized testing, implementing Ethnic Studies, and opposing charter school expansions. Her advocacy extends to ending the criminalization of youth and securing increased funding for schools. Cecily assumed the UTLA presidency during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and played a crucial role in creating the Beyond Recovery Platform, a collaborative initiative aimed at addressing student needs post-pandemic. Her leadership in the 2022-23 school year focused on leveraging historic funding to support a comprehensive recovery for students and schools. A vocal advocate for racial justice, Cecily is Chair of the NEA Black Caucus and a member of Black Lives Matter Los Angeles, where she continues to push for student-centered approaches. She has built strong relationships with leaders across various levels of government and remains committed to advancing the voices of students and educators alike.


The following amendments to the UPTE constitution and resolutions have been proposed to delegates at this year’s convention:

Proposed Constitutional Amendments & Resolutions

Questions? Send them our way, & we will get in touch with you!