My name is Enrique Huerta (he/him), and I am honored to be a candidate for the District 2 Head Steward position with CAPS-UAW 1115. I am a Senior Environmental Scientist (Specialist) with Caltrans in San Luis Obispo, where I have worked for over 6 years to ensure our highway construction projects along the California Central Coast are compliant with environmental laws and regulations such as CEQA and NEPA. 

I have been involved in several key actions that CAPS-UAW has taken during our very busy last couple of years. I acted on the Contract Action Team during bargaining that resulted in our 2024 MOU. I was also involved in the fight against the state’s unlawful Return to Office Mandate, where I joined the statewide Return to Office Working Group that ultimately secured the suspension of RTO through various actions. As part of the CAPS-UAW Stop the Slash movement which ultimately helped to protect the salaries and raises for state scientists, I helped by organizing a rally with my fellow state scientists across several agencies in the San Luis Obispo Area. I am also involved with the CAPS-UAW Political Action Working Group, where I have done things such as phone banking and canvassing for propositions that would benefit state scientists, as well as serving on an interview panel for politicians seeking endorsement from UAW to ensure they have our best interest in mind. I have also attended several UAW Region 6 Trainings such as the Higher Education Council and UAW Summer School. Lastly, I serve as a member supporting contract enforcement   with CAPS-UAW, where I conduct New Employee Orientations, Know Your Rights Trainings, help to facilitate District 2 Membership meetings, and have filed grievances for my fellow CAPS District 2 members.

Over the last few years, I have been so inspired by the organizing efforts done by state scientists. Time after time, CAPS has shown that it is a force to be reckoned with, and when we fight, we win! It has been an honor to be a part of the fight with all of you, and now I truly feel that I am ready to step up even more into the role of Head Steward for District 2. If elected, my primary goals revolve around inclusivity, community, and empowerment. Through several recent key actions, we have proven through our participation numbers and reaching super majority that we are ready to act when called upon. I envision a union where members know the resources that they have to defend their rights, know who to ask and where to look if they don’t, and feel empowered and unafraid to use them! The sense of community we have built through this member-led union is something that I am very proud of, and I intend to expand upon as we move forward and continue our fight. 

Thank you for considering my candidacy. I look forward to the possibility of contributing my skills and passion to our shared success.