For Immediate Release: June 4, 2014
Contact: Blanca Gallegos 213-500-9594
SEIU Local 99 Executive Director Courtni Pugh issued the following statement on the re-election of Tom Torlakson to State Superintendent of Public Instruction
“The School Cafeteria Workers, Bus Drivers, Custodians, Special Education Assistants, Child Care and Early Education Providers represented by SEIU Local 99 are thrilled that Tom Torlakson will continue to move California’s students and communities forward with a vision for education focused on the needs of students inside and outside the classroom.
As State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tom Torlakson has led efforts to close the achievement gap among low income students by continually highlighting the need to invest in quality early education and child care programs. He understands that that if we are serious about making every dollar in K-12 count, we must invest in early learning.
He also knows that poverty, hunger, and illness are major factors that impact student learning and success. He has been a champion for bringing resources and programs into our K-12 campuses that address many of the social and economic issues that challenge our most vulnerable students. And we value his support for our union’s efforts to raise the minimum wage at the Los Angeles Unified School District — the largest school district in California — to $15 per hour to lift families and students out of poverty.
As California begins to rebuild and restore our schools, we look forward to continuing to work with Tom Torlakson to ensure that every child has the resources to learn in a clean, safe, and supportive environment.”
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SEIU Local 99 represents 45,000 education workers throughout Southern California, including school cafeteria workers, custodians, special education assistants, bus drivers, pre-school teachers, child care providers and other workers who ensure children are ready to learn in a clean, safe, and supportive environment. SEIU Local 99 members work in K-12 School Districts, including the Los Angeles Unified School District, Higher Education, the Los Angeles County Office of Education, and in Center and Home-Based Child Care and Early Learning programs.
