Local 2620 Launches Conservative Caucus to Bring Focus to ‘Lunchbox Issues’

Looking to bring a different perspective to the table when it comes to fighting for issues affecting working people, several members of AFSCME Local 2620 recently formed a Conservative Caucus to make sure the conservative voice was included in the local’s work throughout California.

Launching the caucus is a bold move in our state, which is heavily progressive in state and national politics.

But members felt this was long overdue, especially since the local has members in every county of the state and not all of them lean left in their political views.

A big part of forming the group was to remind our union that it “has a responsibility to equally represent its members,” said VeRonica Mundell, a licensed clinical social worker and steward who is chair of the local’s Conservative Caucus.

The caucus held its first meeting in Burbank and brought a number of people together to set their agenda and expand the tent as wide as possible.

Guests included Erin Cruz, a U.S. Congressional candidate, members from the conservative caucuses of AFSCME Council 28 (Washington) and AFSCME Council 75 (Oregon), members from AFSCME Local 10 and members from AFSCME Council 36 in Southern California.

Moving forward, members of Local 2620’s Conservative Caucus agreed that it was important to have a place in our union where the conservative voice can be heard. Most importantly, our sisters and brothers pledged to take a more active role in our union’s political process by supporting candidates that support “lunch box issues,” which include fair pay, a secure retirement, healthcare benefits, preventing outsourcing and a state budget that values working people.

Watch the video to get highlights from the first Conservative Caucus meeting.