Amanda Figueroa
Secretary-Treasurer, SEIU Healthcare, United Long-Term Care Workers' Union
Amanda Figueroa, secretary-treasurer of the more than
190,000-plus member United Long-Term Care Workers' Union,
was
born in Oruro, Bolivia to a family deeply involved in the labor
movement. Her father was the labor leader of the largest mining union
in the country, and she would later follow in his footsteps. Inspired
by her father’s work and commitment, she developed a deep passion for
social justice. She became teacher in her home country for several
years, before immigrating to United States 27 years ago with a hope for
a better future for her family.
Her
first job in the United States was working in the garment industry
earning poverty-level wages. She began taking care of an elderly woman
through the In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program in 1988 and
earned $3.75 per hour. Amanda would care for her patient for more than
13 years. She became active in her union in 1998 and was involved in
the first Member Organizing program that was created by SEIU Local 434B
to help build a stronger union. Because of her dedication and strong
leadership, Amanda was soon elected as Secretary-Treasurer of a 74,000
local union becoming the first Latina to hold office in the largest
homecare union in the country.
Since
her election, and under leadership of Tyrone Freeman, she has helped
grow the local to more than 190,000 members. She created a citizenship
program that offers free classes to union and community members, and is
the lead on immigration related campaigns. She also leads the nursing
home division, for which she is helping negotiate more than 35
contracts. Throughout all her work at the local, she continues moving
forward with one goal in mind: to lift all long-term care workers out
of poverty.