G. Anthony Phillips – Lou Franchimon Lifetime Achievement Award
Gerald Anthony Phillips (known as G Anthony or just G) was born in Medford, Mass on 2/14/49. He was always an adventurer once at the age of 7 hitchhiking 10 miles to the zoo. He comes from a long line of military members. Dad was one of the first officers in the integrated army. Anthony grew up to be a competitor in sports, in his challenge of his brother even though there was a 7-year difference in their ages. One of those challenges was to outrank both his father and brother in the Boy Scouts eventually becoming an Eagle Scout. In doing so, he was put into leadership position. Breaking family Army tradition going back to the Spanish American War, G Anthony enlisted in and served a short term in the Navy and was a squad leader in boot camp.
Eventually, Anthony came to California and met his future wife Kathy while attending Chabot College. In order to have an opportunity to spend more time together they both enrolled in a course entitled “Introduction to Technical Theater”. That turned out to be anything but, as Kathy went to “learn” in the wardrobe department and Anthony to the shop. After a few years at Chabot and Anthony not getting any work through Local 16, Kathy and Anthony went to work at the world’s largest stage and show “Hello Hollywood Hello” at the brand-new MGM Casino and Hotel in Reno. It was there that their unionism developed. Anthony as an organizer after signing a pledge card when he landed in Reno the day before being hired, and Kathy on the negotiating committee. After a successful campaign, Anthony spent a few years there before going on the road joining a few other friends that had gone on the road ahead of them. Anthony returned to the Bay Area in 1984 and began working at one of the world’s most influential theatrical rigging companies and taking extra work through Local 409.
Eventually, Local 409 merged with Local 16 and Anthony was invited to join. After several years, Anthony was voted President in 2010. He served one term and became more involved in the Napa Solano Central Labor Council eventually becoming President. He has been a member of IATSE Local 363 since 1978 and Local 16 since 1996. He retired from full time work but remains on the “available list” and was recently asked to be a part of the newly formed Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committee. He is also a member of Local 16’s Political Committee.
Doug Jones – Labor Champion Award
Doug Jones has been a leader in the San Francisco Bay area labor movement for over 40 years. He serves on the Executive Board of the Contra Costa Labor Council and as a delegate to the Alameda Labor Council. He has provided his vast knowledge of the health care industry and health policies to those other labor organizations and unions. He is a native of the East Bay area. Doug has resided in San Leandro for over 25 years where his passion for patient and community access to quality, affordable health care began with his first job as a kitchen helper and dishwasher at the Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley. For 24 years, he took on more direct patient-care roles and responsibilities. He became active in the SEIU-UHW serving as lead worker and organizer.
Doug has been in a relationship with my wife, Siri Jaeger, for over 30 years. Siri and I will celebrate our 12th wedding anniversary in August.He is proud of the many electoral, political, organizing and contract campaigns our Statewide healthcare workers’ Union has led along with the Labor Council and the rest of our Movement. We have also worked together to elect a Labor-friendly Legislature and Governor and hold them accountable so that we can pass laws which grow worker power.
Tiffanee Jones – Labor Champion Award
Tiffanee Jones was born and raised in Vallejo California where she attended Vallejo Public Schools. Tiffanee received her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration- Organizational Management and a minor in Education from Morris Brown College in Atlanta Georgia. She has one daughter aged 24 named Umiika Rose who is a recent graduate of California State University Northridge.
Tiffanee Jones is an eight-year member of CSEA #199 (California School’s Employees Association). Currently she serves as an Academic Support Provider with the Vallejo City Unified School District and the Co- Director of the Willie B. Adkins Scholars Program formerly known as the Tanner Project. Her primary role has been to develop and implement early intervention programs. She focuses on students who have a history of truancy, discipline, mental health/trauma, foster youth, and homeless youth.
Tiffanee is civically engaged. She is the Southern Vice Chair of the Solano County Democratic Central Committee and a founding Charter Member of the Solano Democratic Workers Alliance. She is a Lifetime Member of Black Women Organized for Political Action (BWOPA), Member of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW), California Democratic Party’s Labor Caucus, Black Caucus, Women’s Caucus, Children’s Caucus, LGBT Caucus and Progressive Caucus. She was recently elected as a California Democratic Party ADEM representing Assembly District 14.
In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, attending Las Vegas Raiders football games and spending time with her close family and friends.
Troy Plunkett – Labor Champion Award
Troy Plunkett born and raised in Vallejo, 35 years old and a 2003 Hogan High School graduate. Injured in a motocross accident on Easter Sunday in 2003, he was paralyzed from the belly button down. Troy quickly adapted to life in a wheelchair, becoming independent soon after.
He began attending Napa JC then went back to work for Albertson’s Grocery. In 2015, Troy founded a 501c3 non-profit called the Spinal Cord Injury Active Network (SCI Active Network). This organization connects SCI survivors and their families; through peer mentoring and empowering an active lifestyle focused on mobility, independence, and quality of life. Our programs serve all Bay Area counties and Sacramento with peer mentoring in Rehabilitation hospitals and at group events. Our Share-A-Chair program accepts donated lightweight manual wheelchairs and inspects, refurbishes, delivers and properly fits newly injured individuals which increases mobility, independence and quality of life.
Morgan Lindsay Hannigan – Labor Partnership Award (Solano)
Morgan was born late in 1987 at Alta Bates Hospital to the best mother he could ask for – Linda Cook. His next big break was marrying his devoted partner, Natalie Quezada. He works on campaigns, with cannabis, and from the bottom up.”
Lara Ruark – Labor Champion Award
Lara Ruark was born on the East Coast in 1977. A happy spinster, with 3 fur babies, one of them being a giant Alaskan Malamute named Dakota. She started teaching in Benicia in 2006 but left California during the recession to live and teach in a rural Alaskan Native village in Alaska. The village was located on the Kuskokwim River and only accessible by boat or small plane. She taught there without any union representation for three years before returning to California. She returned to teach in the same school in Benicia and began to take an active role in the Benicia Teachers Association. She is currently the BTA’s PAC Chair and teaches 4th grade at Mary Farmar Elementary School.
Johanna O’Kelley – Labor Champion Award-
Since 2016, Johanna has been a full-time volunteer, mainly for the Democratic Party. In 2017, she became President of the Democrats of Napa Valley. She is also Treasurer for the Napa County Democratic Central Committee and Executive Board Member for the CA Democratic Party.
In 2020, the Democrats of Napa Valley kicked into high gear for our Democracy at the local, state and national levels, as well as for the 2020 Census Complete Count for Napa County.
The Democrats of Napa Valley held 120 trainings for phone banking, texting, & postcarding, trained 700+ volunteers from around the country as well as in Sweden, Finland, and Austria.
The Democrats of Napa Valley reached 4.6 million voters in 2020 winning the White House, flipping the Senate, and holding the House!
Now it is time to get busy for the Recall election and to fight for voter’s rights and protections throughout the country for our Democracy!
Caitlin Vega – Labor Backbone Award
Caitlin Vega joined the Labor Movement at 18 as an AFL-CIO organizer. She went on to become a labor lawyer, worked for SEIU and Teamsters locals in Napa and Solano Counties, and then spent 16 years at the California Labor Federation, where she served as Legislative Director. In 2020, she founded Union Made, a union-side lobbying shop with her partner Sara Flocks.
Caitlin was raised in Napa where her dad was a member of the Laborers Union and brought her to picket lines throughout her childhood. She is married to Oscar who she met at Vintage High School when she was 14 and they have two children: Oscar Jr, 15 and Diego, 10. Her mom Lauren, a lifelong union activist, lives next door.
She would like to take this opportunity to thank her union mentor Carlos Borba, past Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 490, whose lessons continue to guide her work.
Leon Garcia – Labor Community Partner Award
Born in Los Angeles California. Grew up in Blythe California where 110 degrees is common in the summer.
My wife is Eva Garcia. We will celebrate our 17th Anniversary on July 31st
We are a blended family – like the Brady Bunch. We have 6 adult children and two grandsons – 5 years old, 2 years old and another grandson on the way in November.
I am a Registered Nurse, now retired, and worked at Napa State Hospital as a Nursing Coordinator and the Veterans Home of California-Yountville as a Nurse Instructor. As a Registered Nurse I am proud to say that I was an active member of SEIU 1000 Bargaining Unit 17.
I moved to American Canyon in 2000. A lot of building activity was going on. I got interested and attended city council meeting for year. I was elected to city council in 2002. In 2006 I was elected Mayor of American Canyon. I was elected to my 6th term as Mayor in 2020. Community service is a commitment I have valued throughout my life.
Jorge A. Romero – Labor Activism Award
I was born in Saint Helena, California in 1975. My family consists of my beautiful wife, Marcela Avina our two daughters Vanessa & Alondra and our son Oziel.
On August of 2005 I went to the Union Hall and spoke with a gentleman named Ben Espinoza. He gave me advice on how to look for a sponsor. Ghilotti Construction was kind enough to sponsor me in the apprenticeship program.
Once I completed my apprenticeship program, I became a Journeyman, a lead man and a Forman. I also became an instructor for our Cement Masons’ apprenticeship program, an Organizer, and with the help of the Local 400 crew that has been there and supported me, I am now a Business Agent for the Cement Masons’ Local 400. Helping with the needs of our members. I will continue to support the Labor Movement.
Joseph Shelfo Jr. – Labor Champion Award
I was born September 11, 1965, at St Luke’s in San Francisco. I graduated high school from Albany High School in 1984, Laney College, Contra Costa College, and DVC during my Sheet Metal Workers Local 104 apprenticeship. I studied metallurgy, machine, and business, and I completed my apprenticeship in 1989 in San Francisco. I bought my first home in 1989 in Pinole Ca, as an apprentice. I became a foreman at the age of 24.
Married the love of my life in 1998, Gina Shelfo. We purchased our home in Napa in 2000. We have two daughters and one son, Courtney, Gracey, and Joe III.
I left Monterey Mechanical Company in 2015 to become a Business Representative for the SMW Local 104. I enjoy boxing, wrestling, water skiing, boating, and my worst habit of all, drag boat racing.
Accomplishments: One beautiful wife, three beautiful children and one great wiener dog. The best job in the world, putting people to work and helping folks out.
I have a blessed life all in the name of my family, friends and my brothers and sisters and its all attributed to the local 104. I am a third generation Sheet metal worker and a Second generation local 104 member.
In a nutshell, I am a gambler, a fighter, a craftsman, an adrenalin junky that loves to battle, that’s what attracted me to the business rep position. I am willing and able to go the distance for my members at any cost. That is what makes my job exciting and never monotonous.
Jeanette Wylie – Labor Champion Award
Jeanette Wylie has been involved with the Democratic Party all her life, but much more actively since moving to California in 1991. Born in Missouri in 1955, she grew up on a family farm and met her husband, Glenn, at the University of Missouri. Their children, Anna and Scott, have proudly voted in each election since turning 18. Wylie has been a teacher, Union president, and a busy volunteer. Winning re-election to the Solano County Democratic Central Committee, she will begin her third term in April. You will find her involved with fundraising activities like the annual Crab Feed and the biannual Awards Dinner. During the election season, she has facilitated the endorsement process and kept busy walking precincts and phone banking. Wylie has served as the Secretary of the SCDCC and is on several committees. Additionally, she is an active member of the Northern Solano Democratic Club. During her 35 years in education, she was a classroom teacher and served as the President of the Travis Teachers for 8 years. She is now a member of California Teachers Association/NEA Retired. Wylie enjoys building Democratic support, volunteering at Rush Ranch, playing with her Corgi, and traveling with her husband, Glenn. She was elected to the Vacaville City Council in November 2020.
Liz Alessio – Labor Partnership Award (Napa)
When Liz talks about her family’s deep connection to Napa, she can back it up with the fact they have lived in Napa Valley for 150 years with generations of proud Democrats fighting for the working class. Here great-great grandfather Napa County Supervisor from 1901-1904, her great grandfather president of the Municipal Carmen’s Union, as well as president of the 1934 General Strike Committee, for San Francisco and the Bay Region. Her father a Napa Police Officer and vocal member of the Police Officers Association. Liz has been in the community advocating for the working class and vulnerable since 2008 with a call to run for Napa City Council in 2017 and elected to her first term in 2018. She is married to Jess Hudak, has 3 grown children (33, 32, 26) and 2 grandchildren (7 & 4).
Ben Hill – Labor Backbone Award
Ben was born in Vallejo and currently resides in Benicia. He has been married to his wife, Jaime, for twelve years. They have a daughter, Alexandria and son, Little Ben. He currently works for the Vallejo Fire Department and started his career as a Firefighter Trainee with them in 2001. He currently holds the rank of Captain and has previously worked as a Firefighter/Paramedic and an Engineer. Ben has been involved with Firefighters Local 1186 since 2008 when he was elected to be the Department representative for the Vallejo firefighters. Ben is now the President of Firefighters Local 1186 who represents the Professional Firefighters of Vallejo, Fairfield, Benicia, American Canyon, Rio Vista, Cordelia, and will be soon expanding to represent the Suisun City Firefighters. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with family enjoying all sorts of outdoor activities in the Bay Area such as golfing, biking, and fishing, coaching little league with his son, and travelling with family and friends.
Machinists #1173 – Becky Benton Memorial Courage Award
Automotive Machinists Local 1173 has been representing mechanics and parts people in the automotive trades for over fifty years. We know the particular issues that face our members, and know that by standing strong together, we can overcome the obstacles to justice in the workplace and economic success. Our mechanics at Toyota Vallejo entered into good faith negotiations with their employer in 2016. Emboldened by the Trump Administration’s war on working people, the employer set out to claw back decades of hard-won gains from the bargaining unit. The employer froze wages, proposed eliminating healthcare for dependents, and withdrew union security, while earning record profits and raising their door rate, (the rate they charge the public). After three years of stalemate, the unit struck the employer in September 2019. Throughout the hot fall days into the cold winter, the unit stayed tough. While the strike ended with no resolution, the Machinists Union is proud of the way our members stood together and took on this employer.
