Service + Solidarity Spotlight: CSEA Ramps Up Internal Organizing at Schools Throughout California

Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service + Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.

As union leaders, we know there is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to internal organizing and recruiting new members in our bargaining units. But if there’s one common denominator among the California School Employees Association’s (CSEA’s) most effective recruiters, it’s being focused on helping their colleagues.

Recruiting new members and building union power is a major priority for CSEA leaders like Sonia Carlos (pictured above, left), a site representative for West Covina Chapter 91 who has organized 280 new members in the past five years. “I think [new employee orientations] are the most effective because I’m fortunate to have a one-on-one with them,” she explained. “They’re not afraid of asking me questions or sharing a bit of their personal experiences. The real key is to listen to them.”