Local 18 slate sweeps election!

As I’m sure you have heard by now, Local 18 members Lilly Calvache, Dan Mirisola and Javier Romero were overwhelmingly elected to the DWP Retirement Board. Congratulations to the members on YOUR victory! You showed that when given the opportunity to participate you were able to vote for your own best interest. Now you will have representation on the Board.

Soon Lilly, Dan and Javier will be attending an intensive class given to new Board members. Starting with our next issue, look for their reports in the Surge.

I especially want to thank the stewards and volunteers who worked to get out the vote, and all of you who took the time to do the right thing by participating in this important election.


In the March 7 California State Primaries, the get-out-the-vote campaign, mounted by organized labor in Los Angeles County, paid off with important victories for labor-backed candidates. State Senator Hilda Solis, one of labor’s staunchest advocates in the state senate, will be the Democratic candidate for congress in the 31st District.

“By electing Hilda Solis,” said County Fed President Miguel Contreras, “we have done more than send a proven fighter to Congress. We have lifted the bar for obtaining labor’s political endorsement and support.”

Assembly candidates winning their primary races with labor’s support include Jerome Horton, Paul Koretz, Dario Frommer, Jenny Oropeza, Ed Chavez and our longtime friend on the LA City Council, Jackie Goldberg.

It has never been more important for working families to elect representatives who will understand and support them. The world is changing rapidly, and without vigilance and commitment the gains for working people, that organized labor has won over the decades, could be swept away. We need people in the US Congress, the California Assembly and Senate and the Los Angeles City Council who will fight to protect and extend the rights of working people. Be sure to support these candidates in November.


Yet another victory: The Employee Relations Board supported our agreement to remove CIGNA from Local 18 bargaining units. This plan was sapping the resources of our system while being nonresponsive to our members’ needs. Getting rid of it is an improvement we have been fighting for.

We have negotiated to replace Health Net with an expanded Blue Cross plan that includes some exciting new benefits, including acupuncture, increased mental health benefits, “progressives” in the vision plan, as well as a Point-of-Service option. Open enrollment is coming up, and you might want to consider switching to this excellent plan.

In Unity,

BRIAN D’ARCY, Business Manager

February-March Surge | Home | Officers and Staff | Meetings and Announcements | Surge + | Links