Yvette Trujillo was elected as International Executive Vice President, the first woman and Latina to serve on the leadership team, at the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) 60th International Convention in Las Vegas, NV, on September 20, 2022.
Trujillo was just 15, when her grandfather started telling her that she “really should get a good Union job with good Union benefits.” He was an ATU Local 1001 member and had worked as a mechanic for the Denver Tramway and its successor, the RTD, for over 30 years. Her uncle worked there as well. She got a job as an RTD operator and joined Local 1001-Denver, CO.
Shortly after her youngest was born, both her husband and her older daughter became seriously ill. Trujillo became the caretaker and ran into the inevitable work/family time conflicts that occur in situations such as this. Her employer reacted by imposing discipline on her. But, Trujillo, confident in her excellent work record, asked for leniency, given the situation. Her boss told her that she’d love to help her out, but that her hands were tied by their Union contract. Local 1001 took on her case and won. Then and there Trujillo made a commitment to herself that she would become active in the ATU.
She became a shop steward in 1998 and was an Executive Board Member in 1999. She was elected recording secretary, and three years later, Trujillo ran for Local President unopposed.
As the new Local President, she knew that the Local would have gone on strike over their last contract if they had been better organized. So, immediately after she was elected, she started organizing her members. Another poor contract was offered when contract negotiations began again. Trujillo took the Local on strike for a better contract, taking their case to the steps of the state capitol. And they won the largest wage increase in the Local’s history.
International President Warren S. George appointed Trujillo International Representative on January 1, 2007, and then in September 2010 the delegates at the 56th International Convention elected her as International Vice President, she has found it “exciting” to be working on a “broader level.”
Trujillo appreciates what the labor movement, and in particular what the ATU, can do for people. Not surprisingly, today she finds herself telling her children and grandchildren, “You know, you really should get a good Union job with good Union benefits.”