Laphonza Butler

Laphonza Butler is the President of SEIU Local 2015 – the recently formed statewide long term care union that has united the voices of more than 325,000 SEIU nursing home and home care workers throughout California. SEIU Local 2015 is the largest union in California and the largest long term care local in the country.

Since the formation of Local 2015 on June 2, 2015, its members have celebrated historic victories at the local, state, and federal levels - including the passage of the nation’s first $15 statewide minimum wage – a victory that will improve the lives of over 6 million Californians and for which Butler’s leadership was honored by the White House.

Previously, Butler served for seven years as President of SEIU United Long Term Care Workers (ULTCW), and also as SEIU’s Property Services Division Director in which she was responsible for the strategic direction of the more than 250,000 janitors, security officers, window cleaners, and food service workers across the country.

Butler also currently serves as an SEIU International Vice President and President of the SEIU California State Council. Additionally, she Chairs the University of California African-American Advisory Council, serves as a Board Member for the National Children’s Defense Fund and the Bay Area Economic Council Institute, is a fellow for the MIT Community Innovators Lab, and formerly was Director for the Board of Governors of the Los Angeles branch of the Federal Reserve System.