OLYMPIA – On Friday, Rep. Javier Valdez (D-Seattle) and Sen. Rebecca Saldaña (D-Seattle) accepted the Social Justice Champion Award from SEIU 775 on behalf of the Member of Color Caucuses (MOCC) of both chambers of the Washington State Legislature.
“We are thrilled to award the House and Senate Members of Color Caucuses the SEIU 775 Social Justice Champion Award for their work to transform Washington State into a more equitable and inclusive state for all,” said SEIU 775 President Sterling Harders.
“In 2019, these legislators fought to ensure working people are paid enough to support themselves and their family and to have the opportunity to join a union, to end discrimination, and to protect the rights of immigrants and refugees to live and work in Washington,” she said. “Our state is stronger because of this work and caregivers look forward to continuing the fight for equity fighting alongside these women and men.”
In accepting the award on behalf of the Senate MOCC, Saldaña said, “It’s an honor for us to receive this award. The members of SEIU 775 have been among the first to support non-traditional politicians, and with support like this, the Members of Color Caucuses continue to grow. Not only does this growth help us prioritize key legislation that puts people first, it also provides us with more people to help keep this legislation front and center throughout the legislative process.”
Valdez, who accepted the award on behalf of the House MOCC as its Chair said, “The 2019 session was a landmark one for social justice legislation, from prioritizing and advocating for critical bills, to fighting for budget dollars to assist underrepresented communities. The Members of Color Caucus was proud to champion these policies on behalf of all people in our state. We know the work continues, and together with allies like SEIU 775 we will keep standing up for Washington’s working families and diverse communities.”
