Draft:Rudy Gonzalez

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Rudy Gonzalez
Born (1984-03-03) March 3, 1984 (age 41)
San Francisco
Occupations
  • Labor organizer
  • publisher
Years activePresent
TitleSecretary–Treasurer
Board member ofSan Francisco Building and Construction Trades Council
Rudy Gonzalez's voice
Gonzalez speaking out against federal overreach during a protest against military deployment in Los Angeles
Recorded June 2025
Signature

Rudy Gonzalez is an American union representative[1] and activist currently serving as the secretary–treasurer of the San Francisco Building and Construction Trades Council,[2] a coalition representing 27 labor unions[3][4] and approximately 7,500 active building and construction trades workers in the Bay Area.[5] He is also the publisher of the council's newspaper, Organized Labor, for which he writes a monthly column.

Gonzalez has previously served as vice-president of the California Labor Federation[6] as well as co-chair of the City and County of San Francisco's Economic Recovery Task Force during the COVID-19 pandemic.[7][8][9] He is currently a member of the San Francisco Labor Council's executive committee[10] and co-chair of the council's Public Employee Committee.[11]

Rudy Gonzalez is a leader for the fight for better wages in the building trades in San Francisco.

Early life

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A San Francisco native, Rudy Gonzalez was born at St. Luke's Hospital and graduated from Archbishop Riordan High School. His father was a union firefighter, and his family had strong ties to the community. Gonzalez's upbringing significantly influenced his commitment to labor activism from an early age.[12] He was raised Catholic and was influenced by his faith's social justice doctrine.[5][13]

Career

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Gonzalez's first union job was in parking enforcement for the Daly City Police Department.[5]

International Brotherhood of Teamsters

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Gonzalez carried his first union card at the age of 18 as a member of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. After serving his role as a shop steward, he volunteered as a member organizer, where he learned how to campaign and help workers in forming a union.[13]

In 2008, he was hired as a full-time business representative and organizer for Teamsters Local 856, negotiating private- and public-sector contracts throughout Northern California. Gonzalez rose to the rank of director and was eventually elected twice as vice-president of the local.[13]

Membership of Local 856 nearly doubled to around 17,000 during his tenure.[13]

San Francisco Labor Council

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Gonzalez speaks at a rally on October 7, 2021, in front of Hotel Vitale in San Francisco.
Gonzalez (left) at a city workers' rally at San Francisco City Hall on May 14, 2025.

In May 2018, Gonzalez was appointed interim executive director of the San Francisco Labor Council, which represents 130 unions[14] and approximately 100,000 workers in the city.[15][16] Three months later, he was officially nominated and unanimously elected to the post,[17] becoming both the first person of color and the youngest executive director in the 125-year history of the council.[12]

In this role, Gonzalez assisted affiliated unions in mobilizing, campaigning, and organizing. During his tenure, Gonzalez launched several initiatives, including the Labor in the Schools program, which introduced labor curriculum and union awareness to younger generations in San Francisco.[18] He also served as co-chair of the labor council's Public Employee Committee.[19]

San Francisco Building and Construction Trades Council

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Gonzalez began his tenure as the secretary–treasurer of the San Francisco Building and Construction Trades Council in January 2021.[12]

Gonzalez is also the publisher of the council's monthly newspaper, Organized Labor, for which he writes a monthly column called "Building the Trades".

Labor activism

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Gonzalez is active in local politics and community organizing, regularly appearing at San Francisco City Hall and the California State Capitol to meet with lawmakers about contract negotiations and other issues affecting the trades.

Gonzalez has spoken publicly alongside politicians such as former Secretary of State Anthony Blinken,[20][5] former Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg,[21] and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.[22][23] In 2024, Gonzalez championed a $3.4 billion federal commitment for the Transbay Joint Powers Authority project that would connect Caltrain and, eventually, the California High-Speed Rail to the Salesforce Transit Center near the Financial District, stating it would bring jobs to local trades workers.[24]

Gonzalez has been a staunch supporter of San Francisco's Citywide Project Labor Agreement,[25] saying it sets fair standards on workers' safety, wages, and benefits. He often touts its intended effect of employing local workers and apprentices for most public works and city parks projects, further stimulating the San Francisco economy.[26][27][5]

Gonzalez often participates in solidarity strikes and picket actions against employers who have been accused of unfair labor practices. In 2023, he accused the San Francisco Unified School District of "committ[ing] labor law violations,"[28] joining plumbers, roofers, and other construction workers on the picket line. He has also voiced support for the Black Lives Matter movement, standing with 1,500 janitors who walked off the job during a strike against racial injustice.[29] In 2025, Gonzalez joined United Association Local 38 on a strike against the San Francisco Zoo, citing mismanagement and sub-par wages.[30][31]

Personal life

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Gonzalez lives in Oakland, California, with his wife, Sarah Sanford-Smith, a judge serving in the Alameda County Superior Court appointed by California Governor Gavin Newsom,[32] along with their three children.

References

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  1. ^ Fitzgerald, Bridget (June 9, 2025). "Marines deployed to LA protests". ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  2. ^ "On the C-SPAN Networks: Rudy Gonzalez". C-SPAN. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  3. ^ Leahy, Garrett (May 12, 2023). "Downtown San Francisco: 1,200 contractors left jobless as doom loop bites". The San Francisco Standard. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  4. ^ Gilman, Io Yeh (July 24, 2024). "Glass workers' Mission picket attracts political crowd". Mission Local. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  5. ^ a b c d e Li, Roland (April 22, 2024). "The San Francisco Influence List: People who are directing the city's future". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  6. ^ Gonzalez, Rudy (October 21, 2020). "Prop. 19 promotes tax fairness and new revenue for fire and emergency services". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  7. ^ King, John (April 2, 2020). "City grants, loans for SF businesses reeling from coronavirus outbreaks". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  8. ^ "SF announces launch of new economic recovery program to support and retrain workers". San Francisco Chronicle. March 5, 2021. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  9. ^ "Economic Recovery Task Force". ONESF (The Office of Resilience and Capital Planning). Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  10. ^ "Executive Committee". San Francisco Labor Council. Retrieved August 7, 2025.
  11. ^ "Public Employee Committee". San Francisco Labor Council. Retrieved August 7, 2025.
  12. ^ a b c "Welcome Rudy Gonzalez, New Secretary–Treasurer of Building Trades". San Francisco Building & Construction Trades Council. Organized Labor. January 6, 2021. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  13. ^ a b c d "Rudy Gonzalez Steps Up as Council's Secretary–Treasurer". San Francisco Building & Construction Trades Council. Organized Labor. January 16, 2021. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  14. ^ Garofoli, Joe; Sanchez, Tatiana (May 15, 2020). "City employees protest possible hike in insurance costs: 'It's immoral'". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  15. ^ Moench, Mallory (March 24, 2020). "Airlines would get billions in bailout, while noncitizen airport workers could get none". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  16. ^ "Local Endorsements: San Francisco". California Federation of Labor Unions. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  17. ^ Knight, Heather; Fracassa, Dominic (April 9, 2018). "SF labor leaders shuffle positions after one official retires". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  18. ^ "Secretary–Treasurer's Report". San Francisco Building & Construction Trades Council.
  19. ^ Booth, Rachel Cohen (August 21, 2023). "How housing activists and unions found common ground in California". Vox. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  20. ^ "Secretary Blinken and Trade Representative Tai Remarks on Global Labor Rights and Standards". C-SPAN. November 16, 2023. Retrieved August 7, 2025.
  21. ^ "Transcript: Secretary Buttigieg Remarks at San Francisco Central Subway Transportation Press Conference". U.S. Department of Transportation. September 8, 2022. Retrieved August 7, 2025.
  22. ^ Dickey, Megan Rose (September 9, 2022). "Buttigieg, Pelosi visit San Francisco's Central Subway". Axios. Retrieved August 7, 2025.
  23. ^ Echeverria, Danielle (December 11, 2021). "Here's how the bipartisan infrastructure deal will boost Bay Area transit". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved August 7, 2025.
  24. ^ "TJPA Celebrates $3.4 Billion Federal Commitment for The Portal". Transbay Joint Powers Authority. Retrieved August 7, 2025.
  25. ^ "Citywide Project Labor Agreement". City and County of San Francisco. Retrieved August 8, 2025.
  26. ^ Bourne, Jacob (January 2024). "Has the Citywide PLA Improved SF's State of Play?". San Francisco Building & Construction Trades Council. Retrieved August 7, 2025.
  27. ^ Bourne, Jacob (January 2024). "Has the Citywide PLA Improved SF's State of Play?" (PDF). Organized Labor. Retrieved August 7, 2025.
  28. ^ Mishanec, Nora (December 3, 2023). "Construction workers union to picket SFUSD amid allegations of unpaid wages, unfair labor practices". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved August 7, 2025.
  29. ^ Li, Roland (July 20, 2020). "1,500 janitors in SF walk out as part of national Strike for Black Lives". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved August 7, 2025.
  30. ^ Mazzolla Jr., Larry (May 2025). "Victory at the San Francisco Zoo: Local 38 Picket Roars to Success" (PDF). United Association Local 38. Retrieved August 7, 2025.
  31. ^ "SF Labor to SF Zoo: Stop Monkeying Around With Workers' Rights" (PDF). Organized Labor. April 2025. Retrieved August 7, 2025.
  32. ^ "Governor Newsom Announces Judicial Appointments 7.28.23". Governor of California. 28 July 2023.
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