May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander(AANHPI) Heritage Month—a time to honor the rich histories, cultures, and contributions of AANHPI Americans—past and present—who continue to shape our country.
At UDW, this celebration holds deep meaning, as our union is powered by the strength, diversity, and dedication of members who reflect the communities they care for. AANHPI caregivers are an integral part of our workforce and our movement—leaders in their neighborhoods and on the front lines of the fight for dignity and respect for all workers and the clients they serve.
According to a recent report from the California Department of Social Services (CDSS), nearly one in five IHSS providers in California identify as Asian or Pacific Islander. These members bring generations of caregiving knowledge, cultural traditions, and community strength to their work. Our union is proud to stand with each and every one of them.
AANHPI Labor Leaders Who Inspire Us
From the fields to the frontlines of care work, AANHPI workers have played a pivotal role in the labor movement—often forging solidarity across racial, linguistic, and geographical boundaries. Their stories remind us that progress is built through collective action and courageous leadership, even when faced with erasure, discrimination, and systems designed to keep them out.
This month, we celebrate leaders like:
- Larry Itliong – A Filipino-American farmworker and labor organizer who led the 1965 Delano grape strike and co-founded the United Farm Workers (UFW). His leadership brought Filipino and Mexican farmworkers together in a historic coalition for justice in California’s fields.
- Sue Ko Lee – A Chinese American garment worker in San Francisco who helped lead a bold strike in 1938, taking on both labor exploitation and racial discrimination in one of the first Asian American labor victories in U.S. history.
- Yuri Kochiyama – A Japanese American civil rights activist whose work spanned racial justice and labor organizing movements. She stood in solidarity with Black, Asian, and Latinx workers, showing the power of cross-racial alliance.
- Philip Vera Cruz – A Filipino American labor leader and founding member of the UFW, Vera Cruz was a moral compass in the farmworker movement and a lifelong advocate for dignity and equality for workers of all backgrounds.
- Kent Wong – As Director of the UCLA Labor Center and co-founder of the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA), Kent has mentored generations of labor leaders and amplified the voices of AANHPI and immigrant workers in the labor movement.
- Ai-Jen Poo – A fierce national advocate for domestic and care workers, Ai-Jen co-founded the National Domestic Workers Alliance and remains a powerful voice for immigrant women, caregivers, and aging policy reform.
Their passion and commitment to justice laid a strong foundation for the labor leaders who follow in their footsteps, including many here at UDW.
Johanna Hester: A Voice for Care Providers Across All Communities
Among today’s AANHPI labor champions is Johanna Hester, a longtime UDW leader and trailblazer in the fight for in-home care providers. Born in the Philippines and raised in San Diego, Johanna’s commitment to empowering workers is rooted in her own lived experience and deep belief in justice.
For over two decades, Johanna has served in leadership roles within UDW and AFSCME—breaking barriers as one of the few Asian American women in top union leadership. She led historic organizing efforts that brought over 30,000 IHSS providers into the union, securing better wages, benefits, and protections for home care and family child care providers across California.
Today, Johanna serves as UDW’s Deputy Executive Director and the director of AFSCME’s Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) constituency group. Her leadership continues to inspire our members and pave the way for future AANHPI organizers and care workers.
In Our Own Words: AANHPI Members Reflect
Angie Nguyen is a home care provider in California, caring for her mother and aunt, both in their 80s. Originally from Vietnam, she moved to California in 1993 through help from the Humanitarian Operation Program. Nguyen has been a proud UDW member since 2008 and currently serves as a board member, committed to lifting up home care and family child care providers, clients, and communities through collective action. She has helped grow the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance’s (APALA) membership in Orange County, organized activists for community actions and local elections, and worked with the Orange County Labor Federation to advance APALA’s mission.
From past to present, AANHPI workers have shaped our movement with resilience and resolve. It’s on us to carry that legacy forward by fighting for dignity, equity, and a future where every care provider is seen and supported.
