Tyrone Freeman
President, SEIU Healthcare, United Long-Term Care Workers' Union
Tyrone Freeman, President of the 190,000-plus member Long-Term Care Workers' Union, began his tenure in the Labor Movement more than thirteen years ago.
At the age of 21, he led organizing drives in the South where the political culture for a young African-American activist demanded creative organizing. His leadership earned him the role of Executive Director of SEIU Local 1985 in Atlanta in 1994. In 1996, he became the youngest leader in the 90-year history of Service Employees International Union, elected to the International Executive Board.
Since he arrived in Los Angeles in 1999 and accepted the position of General President of ULTCW, he has accomplished a great deal.
In 2000, he was elected Vice President for SEIU International. By 2001, President Freeman established a non-profit training center for the community that has secured over a million dollars in grants. The center serves as a healthcare ladder allowing homecare workers to train in the fields of Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA), Licensed Vocational Nurse, (LVN) and Registered Nurse (RN). It offers computer classes for English and Spanish speaking members, basic skills training, as well as First Aid/CPR and the In Home Support Services Series.
President Freeman created the Long Term Care Housing Trust Corporation in 2003 that is building affordable luxury homes for union families. In August of 2005, the first two homes in the City of Compton were completed.
In 2004, President Freeman was inducted to the Board of Directors for the International Foundation of Election Systems (IFES). He also serves on the Prison Industry Board of Directors, the Community Financial Resource Board of Directors and as Chairman of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference of Greater Los Angeles.
President Freeman is transforming labor in California with his tireless commitment to lead the struggle for livable wages, decent housing and health care for all.