(Sacramento, CA) – Bill A. Lloyd, President of the Services Employees International Union (SEIU) California released the following statement after Asm. John Perez’s election as Assembly Speaker today:

“SEIU California congratulates Speaker-elect John Perez on his election today.   Selected to lead the Assembly after a tumultuous period in California’s economy and history, Speaker-elect Perez has the vision and leadership we need to turn the corner on these difficult times and begin once again to invest in California and its people.

“As a leader who has stood with working Californians for decades, Speaker-elect Perez knows better than anyone that we won’t be able to invest in California, rebuild our middle class, and strengthen our schools, our colleges, our healthcare, our economy, and the public services we all rely on until everyone – including the corporate special interests -- pay their fair share at last.  The 700,000 janitors, home care workers, school, university and public employees who make up SEIU California are ready to work together with our new speaker to rebuild California for our children and restore the promise of economic, health, and retirement security for all.

“California families have endured a long and painful recession, and we know that California’s suffering would have been worse were it not for the dedication and leadership from Speaker Karen Bass.  Speaker Bass worked tenaciously to fight against cuts to the safety net that imperil our children, grandparents and people with disabilities.  We wish her the best and will continue to count on her to be a strong voice for a budget that protects the welfare of California’s children and families.”


SEIU California is a coalition of over 700,000 janitors, social workers, security officers, home care workers, school and university employees, healthcare workers, and city, county and state employees represented by SEIU local unions throughout California. We come together to build a better California by fighting to pass policies and elect candidates that benefit working families and advance the issues we care about: affordable healthcare, good wages, retirement security for all, a healthy environment, good schools and universities, and stronger communities. We believe that by working together we can build a California where working families can thrive again.