SEEING the bigger picture
9:25 AM - April 2, 2014
Member Profile: Shelia Byars
A Local 1000 activist for more than 15 years, Shelia Byars is
stepping up once again and volunteering for campaigns that go
beyond the worksite–working toward a better life for all
Californians.
She’s applying the grassroots organizing skills she’s learned as
an engaged member and applying them to the fight against income
inequality and Raising California Together–a campaign that
raises awareness and advocates for more early childcare options
for members of the community that cannot otherwise afford it. She
strongly believes that, “We are in a fight for our future and the
future of our children, grandchildren and ourselves. We have a
duty to strengthen the middle class and secure a living wage for
all. Nothing can just be about us and our interests.”
This Bargaining Unit 1 member leader has been in state service
for over 18 years and currently works at the Department of Motor
Vehicle (DMV) Driver Safety Office in Stockton. Over the past 15
years, Shelia has served her fellow members as a DLC President,
Chief Steward, DLC Secretary, District Bargaining Unit
Representative and Sergeant at Arms.
She became involved in the Union when a Local 1000 staff member
saw her potential and invited her to a steward training. “I
wasn’t even aware of a steward’s role or how they help protect
state workers, but I was taught by my mother that if you see
something wrong with a situation–don’t just talk about it, fix
it,” Byars said. “That meeting was my turning point because the
Local gave me the tools I needed to set goals, foster teamwork
and network with our members. The first thing I did was organize
my worksite at the time to 100 percent membership by
communicating Local 1000’s values and benefits.”
Grassroots organizing and political power produce DMV
reclassification and compensation victory
In July of 2013, the Local 1000 DMV Reclassification Team reached
an agreement with the state updating job specifications for more
than 4,000 employees to better reflect the work they perform, and
providing pay increases ranging from 1.5 per cent to 7.5 per
cent. Throughout that battle, Shelia grew as a member leader and
became a DMV campaign champion who stood up and fought for
members at the bargaining table.
“The DMV campaign was successful because we involved our members
in every step of the process– constant two-way communication,
surveys, actions, testimony at the bargaining table–and the
members trusted us because we stayed honest with them,” Byars
recalls.
Once the agreement was reached with the DMV, it needed to be
ushered through the legislative process and made into law. “I
will never forget the name of that bill–SB 102,” she said. “It
is so important for Local 1000 members to be involved
politically, because if we didn’t help elect the right governor
or legislators, the reclassification effort would still be a
battle.”