A good part of the credit goes to President Albert Lopez. Since taking office last August, Lopez has focused on convincing fee payers to join AFT Local 6109.

He said. “We let them know about the benefits they would get as members, like being eligible to vote on contracts.” Lopez has an ideal job for reaching employees throughout the district. As a delivery driver, he tools around in a Ford F150 between Menifee’s 10 elementary schools, three middle schools and administration buildings. He is quick to credit former president Robin Espinda for giving the organizing drive a solid foundation — an audit showing which employees were fee payers and where they worked. 

The Menifee local represents about 540 custodians, clerical, security, food service, bus drivers, tech aides, health aides and other staff. Espinda realized there was a problem when several coworkers who should have signed union cards when they were hired began asking her how they could join.