Hi, my name is Elicia Yoffee (she/her) and I am running for District 3 Head Steward at CAPS-UAW, Local 1115. I am an Energy Analyst at the California Energy Commission working to develop building decarbonization policy. I also serve as both my department’s Assistant Tribal Liaison and Disadvantaged Communities Advisory Group Liaison.

One of the reasons I joined state service in June 2024 was the opportunity to be a union member. Having been a manager at a unionized manufacturing plant, I saw the power of the union to maintain and improve members’ rights and benefits. As a person with a disability, I believe the power a union can provide can help to ensure disability and other workplace protections is extremely important.

I am running for this position because I would like to contribute to building CAPS-UAW Local 1115’s collective power. With this power we can negotiate higher, more equitable salaries, better working conditions, and overall stronger MOUs. We will also have more political power in the state legislature and in our communities. Given the attacks on workers, equity, higher education, and the entire concept of climate change coming from the Trump administration, we have the opportunity to work with the larger labor movement to push back against these anti-worker and anti-climate policies.

Within my department I have started conducting CAPS New Employee Orientations and assisting with outreach for CAPS actions. I have also helped to organize meetings to discuss important topics, and any questions CEC scientists may have.

If elected, I intend to work with my fellow scientists to organize District 3 and support mass member participation in union democratic decision-making and actions. I will work to support scientists as they become more engaged in union activities and to equip scientists with tools to enforce their rights and build power. I also intend to work with my fellow stewards to ensure we have an effective structure to engage with member input, needs, and questions.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to serving as a District 3 Head Steward and to work with my fellow scientists toward a more equitable future.