My name is Andre Oliveira. I worked as a Janitor at O’Connor Hospital in Santa Clara County, California, and had been a proud SEIU member for 12 years. I served in multiple leadership roles within SEIU521 union, such as Chair of the Committee on Political Education (COPE), and Chapter Vice-President.

Now I am an Association’s Representative with Registered Nurses Professional Association (RNPA) in Santa Clara County, where I will be representing the more than 4.000 nurses that serve our County.

My mission is simple: educate workers about what a union is and how it works. This platform exists to explain the roles that make unions strong—organizers, stewards, leaders, and members—and how each person contributes to building worker power.

Too many workers in the United States are never taught what unions are or how they can organize their workplace. We believe knowledge is the first step toward change.

This movement will continue until every worker in the country understands what a union is and anyone who wants to unionize has the tools, knowledge, and confidence to do it.

Because informed workers build stronger workplaces. ✊