From childhood until now, unions have been a part of Colleen Juarez’s life story.
Juarez, a legal secretary for the City of Los Angeles since 2006, has been a part of the labor movement for most of her life. She grew up in a union household with her father being a union representative for the California Nurses Association and executive director for the Montana Nurses Association. As a child, she spent a lot of time going to union meetings and chanting on picket lines. “Saturday mornings we would make peanut butter sandwiches and go to his office in downtown Los Angeles to walk around with cardboard signs,” said Juarez. “We would wave at cars and cheer, and I didn't realize that we were standing up for workers’ rights.”
Her father instilled in her the importance of listening and being patient as a leader, which has helped her tremendously at work and as a union activist with AFSCME Local 3090. As a legal secretary, Juarez handles tasks such as proofreading, note-taking, and coordinating cases for multiple attorneys. “I’m channeling my dad when I’m listening and writing notes. It has made me more respectful of other people’s opinions,” said Juarez.
As a volunteer member organizer (VMO) and steward, Juarez spends a lot of time talking to members, listening to their issues and concerns, and helping them find a solution. Colleen recently helped a member who was being reprimanded by their supervisor for being a few seconds late to work. She was able to help the member calm down and give her advice on how to make sure her supervisor doesn’t continue to reprimand her for the same issue. She has also connected with members and potential members by participating in AFSCME District Council 36 blitzes. “I loved the opportunity to go out and meet people. The VMO program is the best thing that could have happened,” she says. “It puts me in places where I can share the importance of the union and build fellowship.”
Juarez has steadily increased her involvement with the union over the past decade. She became impassioned about the union after being invited to a union meeting by a co-worker in 2016. She then joined her union’s negotiations committee, became a steward, and became a VMO. Being involved in the union also inspired her to become more involved with politics.
She is passionate about sharing the union difference and wants to get even more members involved with AFSCME. She understands that a strong union presence is important and wants to make sure that more and more members feel comfortable and excited to be involved with the union. “My goal is to join our executive board so that I can learn more about how the union operates,” says Juarez. “I want to learn more about the classifications we represent and work hard to protect their rights.”
