Congratulations to Mary Grillo

CONGRATULATIONS TO MARY GRILLO -- (Extensions of Remarks - October 07, 2004)

SPEECH OF
HON. BOB FILNER
OF CALIFORNIA
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2004

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker and colleagues, I want to take this opportunity to recognize and congratulate Mary Grillo, the Secretary-Treasurer of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 2028 who is being honored by the Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice for her many years of dedicated service in advocating for worker justice and dignity for employees in work places throughout San Diego County.

Mary started out as a Wellesley College student interning for SEIU in Boston and at an early age saw firsthand the injustice that many workers face. After several years of work with the International Union, Mary came to work as an organizer in San Diego in 1987. At the time, SEIU Local 102 was a 1,600-member union on decline, but after teaming up with Eliseo Medina, Mary helped to transform Local 102 into the second largest union and one of the most powerfully political unions in San Diego County: SEIU, Local 2028.

Since 1996, Mary has served as executive Director of SEIU Local 2028, representing over 14,000 workers in many different jobs-ranging from janitor to librarian, racetrack program seller to registered nurse, housekeeper to code enforcement officer. In addition, she has acted as spokesperson for not only the workers she represents, but also for all working people in San Diego County.

Mary has led the effort to increase wages and benefits for immigrant and low-wage workers, has worked to expand health care coverage to the County's 650,000 uninsured workers, and has helped to create good jobs in the region.

In local 2028, Mary has worked tirelessly to bring together this large and diverse organization based on the principle of justice for all. And as an important mark of all leaders, Mary has found and developed many leaders who lead their co-workers in organizing and building economic strength in their industries.
Congratulations to Mary Grillo for her work in fighting for justice for the workers of San Diego County.