SEIU Local 535 Records

Accession Number: 
LR002109
Extent: 
5 linear feet (4 SB, 1 OS)

The formation of SEIU Local 535 began when members of the Social Workers Action Committee of #434, SEIU united with the Social Workers Standards Committee in Los Angeles, California. In 1964, these Los Angeles County social workers led a successful strike against the county, the result of which was SEIU chartering Local 535 as the social workers union. As more California public employees continued to strike and join Local 535, the union grew. Eventually Local 535 helped pass the Meyers-Milias-Brown Act, the first Californian legislation on public sector collective bargaining. In 1970, Local 535 ventured into private sector organizing, representing members at non-profit organizations, with a continued focus on hospital employees, particularly nurses. In addition to representing public and hospital employees, Local 535 also represented jewelry workers after the 1981 merger of the International Jewelry Workers Union into SEIU. In the mid-2000s, Local 535 dissolved and its members amalgamated into other SEIU locals including 521, 620, 721, 1000, and 1021.

The records generated by Local 535 that comprise this collection primarily include State Executive Board minutes, Executive Director reports, committee and caucus documents, publications and newsletters, and photographs.

Date: 
1967-2003, bulk 1995-2003
Attachment(click to download)
LR002109_guide.pdfLR002109_guide.pdf246.48 KB