Labor enthusiasm, boots on the ground make difference in Props 30 and 32, legislative races

Statement by SEIU State Council:

The more than 700,000 members of SEIU in California had big reasons to celebrate up and down the ballot on Election Night. Working families united to defeat the deceptive Proposition 32, which tried to silence our voices and hand more power to billionaire CEOs, and pass Proposition 30, which prevents billions of dollars in school cuts. We also helped secure Democratic supermajorities in the Assembly and State Senate.

During this election, our members demonstrated that when we put our boots on the ground and join our voices together, we win victories for California families, students and the middle class. SEIU deployed thousands of volunteers across the state to remind people to vote on Election Day and drive voters to the polls. In Los Angeles County alone, hundreds of volunteers fanned out in neighborhoods over the weekend prior to the election to contact more than 150,000 voters.

By defeating Prop. 32, working people can continue to speak out on issues that matter to the middle class. By passing Prop. 30 and helping to elect Democratic supermajorities in the Assembly and State Senate, we prevented devastating cuts to schools, and have put the state’s budget on a strong path.

This historic effort shows that the secrecy and deception by Prop. 32 backers ignited the passions of working families and contributed to victories across the state.