Remembrance, Solidarity, and Gratitude Heading Into 2025
Rest in Power, Dennis Kelly
I was a relatively new representative and elected trustee of my teamsters local when I first met Dennis Kelly. At the time, Dennis was president of the SFUSD teachers’ union, United Educators of San Francisco Local 61. What I knew about him was mostly through his wife, Hene Kelly, one of my favorite SF Labor Council delegates.
I can’t recall the exact legislative issue at hand the day I met Dennis, but whatever it was, it pitted local teamsters and teachers against each other. Despite that inconvenient political fact, Dennis’s handling of the negotiations left a lasting impression on me. He had a commanding presence and a physical stature that could be imposing, but his calm tone and precise language made him something of a gentle giant. What I expected to be a contentious argument turned into a master class in negotiation and solidarity.
Throughout my career as a labor leader, Dennis remained a figure of moral clarity on issues affecting children and educators. He was someone I could continually turn to for advice and guidance. When I joined the SFLC staff, Dennis was always ready to help, teaching me how to use parliamentary procedure and Robert’s Rules to foster civil discourse rather than stifle dissent.
Dennis was a great teacher, a gentle yet passionate leader, a devoted husband and father, and, above all, a true union man. We lost a great one on November 7, 2024. May his memory be a blessing to us all, especially to Hene and their family.
Stand With Local 2 and Defend the Future of Union Solidarity
The hotel workers of Unite Here Local 2 have been holding the line for over 80 days, striking against some of the City’s largest hotel corporations. This strike isn’t just about the present — it’s about protecting the hard-won rights of generations past and ensuring a future of dignity for workers to come.
At the heart of this struggle is a coordinated campaign to reclaim lost hours for members and to block the hotel bosses’ outrageous attempt to gut union healthcare benefits. Now these employers are stooping even lower and pushing a two-tier system that would sell out future workers. Under their plan, current members would retain benefits while new hires would receive reduced wages and inferior healthcare.
Such a system would divide the union, weaken solidarity, and undo decades of progress. Think about it: working side-by-side with a colleague, doing the same job, paying the same union dues — but only one of you gets full union benefits. It’s an insult to the very principles of equality and fairness that unions stand for.
Local 2 members are morally right to hold the line, and not just for themselves, but for the next generation of workers. Just as we fight today for work we might never see, they are fighting for a future they might never fully enjoy.
The strike continues, one day at a time, on every picket line. Honk your horn. Stop by and stand with them. Donate to their hardship fund. Whatever you do, honor the strike. Their fight is our fight, and their victory will be a victory for us all.
End-of-Year Message
As we close out another year, I want to take a moment to reflect on our collective accomplishments and express my gratitude for your unwavering dedication. We’ve celebrated key wins in 2024 that will help to entitle the next decade of work. Together, we’ve faced challenges head-on, stood strong for our rights, and continued to build the backbone of this city.
This year, your hard work and solidarity have ensured that wages are fair, jobsites are safer, and union voices remain at the forefront of San Francisco’s progress. Whether it was showing up to work at the crack of dawn, training the next generation of apprentices, or standing shoulder-to-shoulder on picket lines, you’ve proven that when we stick together, there’s nothing we can’t achieve.
We’ve made strides in protecting workers’ rights, securing project labor agreements, and advocating for policies that put working families first. But we know our work is never done. As we look to 2025, let’s commit to growing our movement through organizing the non-union, supporting each other across craft lines, and continuing the fight for dignity, respect, and opportunity for all workers.
Thank you for your dedication, strength, and solidarity. I’m proud to stand with all of you, and I look forward to the victories we’ll achieve together in the new year.