LA2024 Enlists Labor Leaders for Olympic Bid

LOS ANGELES - LA 2024 today announced the appointments of Rusty Hicks, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, and Laphonza Butler, President of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 2015 on the LA 2024 Board of Directors, joining fellow union leader and LA 2024 Vice Chair María Elena Durazo. The appointments are the latest demonstration of LA 2024’s commitment to delivering a safe, well-run and low-risk Games that benefits Angelenos and is aligned with the long-term interests of the city and the Olympic Movement.

Durazo, Hicks and Butler bring unparalleled Los Angeles labor relations credentials to the Candidature Committee. Together, they represent much of the workforce who will deliver the Games in 2024 should LA have the honor of being selected as the Host City, including workers in public services and the transport, hospitality and construction industries.

As Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the LA County Federation of Labor, Hicks leads one of America’s largest labor federations, comprised of 300 local unions representing over 800,000 workers. He was unanimously elected to his leadership position after serving as the federation’s Political Director since 2006, and after completing a one-year deployment to Afghanistan as a Lieutenant in the US Navy.

As President of SEIU Local 2015, Laphonza Butler has built a powerful labor organization representing 325,000 in-home caregivers and nursing home workers across California. In addition to serving as the President of SEIU Local 2015, she is also President of SEIU California State Council and Vice President of the SEIU International Executive Board, which represents 1.5 million workers across the United States.

Hicks, Butler and Durazo were key partners with Mayor Eric Garcetti, Council President Herb Wesson and the Los Angeles City Council in raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour by the year 2020.

María Elena Durazo joined LA 2024 in November 2015 and is currently the Vice President for Immigration, Civil Rights & Diversity for UNITE-HERE, which represents hotel and restaurant workers across the United States and Canada. She previously led the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO from 2006 until 2014. For more information on Durazo, visit https://la24.org/media/1111-johnson-and-durazo.

LA 2024 Chairman Casey Wasserman said: "A united and supportive workforce is critical to delivering a safe, well-run and low-risk Games. We are delighted to have the support of María Elena Durazo, Rusty Hicks and Laphonza Butler and we look forward to benefiting from their vast knowledge and leadership in our communities. By having these close working relationships already in place, we are in an excellent position to deliver on the promises we make to the Olympic Movement about creating an outstanding, personalized Games experience for all participants."

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said: "The Olympics are in LA’s DNA and the involvement of Rusty Hicks and Laphonza Butler alongside LA 2024 Vice Chair María Elena Durazo reflects the willingness and commitment from our unions to support LA in its bid to bring the Games back to the United States for the first time in 28 years. These prominent advocates for equality, safety and fairness in the workplace will help us build on Angelenos’ passionate support for our bid."

LA City Council President Herb Wesson said: "The presence of these galvanizing community leaders on LA 2024’s Board of Directors will no doubt enhance LA’s capacity to harness the huge potential of the Games – and our bid – to inspire, to motivate and to promote social cohesion."

LA 2024 Board Member and LA County Federation of Labor Executive Secretary-Treasurer Rusty Hicks said: "The 1984 Games were a seminal moment for LA and a source of great civic pride that still resonates today. I’m proud to work with LA 2024 as it harnesses the creativity and innovation that has transformed our city to create a Games that will inspire, bring our city together and benefit all Angelenos."

LA 2024 Board Member and President of SEIU Local 15 Laphonza Butler said: "LA 2024 would be a wonderful celebration of our city’s diversity and I am excited to be involved in the campaign to bring the Games back here for the first time in a generation. As a bid, we are listening to the voices of the hard-working people who are already creating the new, Games-ready LA today and who would be welcoming the world in 2024. Their support gives LA 2024 the foundation to stage an unforgettable Olympic and Paralympic Games with a lasting positive impact on our economy and our communities."

For more information, visit LA24.org

LA 2024 can also be found on the following social media channels:

Twitter.com/LA2024

Facebook.com/LA2024

Instagram.com/LA2024

YouTube.com/LA2024

Snapchat.com/add/la2024

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