SAN DIEGO, CA — Over the past three decades, San Diego has undergone a remarkable political transformation: labor unions have emerged from the periphery to become central architects of policy, power, and progress. Today, their influence reverberates through city halls, campaign coffers, and construction sites. This historic rise reflects both shifting demographics and masterful organizing—and today’s announcement invites deeper insight and engagement with this compelling movement.
A Defining Meeting in Mission Hills
In November 2018, shortly after Thanksgiving, five influential figures convened at The Patio in Mission Hills. Among them were Tom Lemmon, then-head of the San Diego County Building and Construction Trades Council; Brigette Browning, president of UNITE HERE! Local 30; political strategist Carol Kim; and hoteliers Bill Evans and Robert Gleason of Evans Hotels.
They met to negotiate a high-stakes redevelopment of the Bahia Resort Hotel. Labor opposed the proposal, citing concerns about public access to Bahia Point. Yet, Evans contended that the unions’ deeper motive was to compel him to allow unionization at his hotels—an assertion fueling a subsequent lawsuit alleging coercion and extortion.
“We have a business just like you have a business,” Lemmon asserted, spotlighting labor’s ethos: growth through organized membership. Browning outlined the objective—10,000 members, council influence, and unionization across the county’s hotel sector. That day, labor announced: “There’s a new sheriff in town.”
From Margins to Mainstream
Not long ago, such assertiveness from union leaders would have been unthinkable in San Diego. Historically dominated by conservative business interests, the city was even dubbed Ronald Reagan’s “good luck city.” Yet, as populations shifted and blue precincts expanded, so too did labor’s reach.
A little-known example lies at National City’s D Avenue and 24th Street. In 1968, the Building and Construction Trades Council constructed the National City Park Apartments—an affordable housing complex that now doubles as a political engine. Through nonprofit channels, the complex funnels millions of dollars into labor-aligned races. While Evans Hotels filed federal complaints alleging improprieties, the strategy underscores labor’s savvy financial leverage.
Political Clout and the Turning Point
The transition was gradual but decisive:
- 1998: Labor-backed Proposition MM passed, generating $1.5 billion for school repairs.
- 2004: Labor’s support propelled Councilmember Donna Frye’s near-win mayoral write-in campaign, signaling a profound shift.
- 2008–2012: Despite setbacks, labor groups relentlessly backed candidates, culminating in Democrat Bob Filner’s election in 2012—the first Democratic victory in two decades.
- 2018: In District 2, labor-fueled independent expenditures helped Jen Campbell topple a 25-year incumbent, securing a council supermajority.
- 2022–2025: Labor celebrated another milestone as the city repealed its Project Labor Agreement ban. Mayor Todd Gloria signed a sweeping, PLA-backed deal on city hall steps—cementing labor’s institutional foothold in public projects.
The Legal Battleground and the Next Fight
While the labor-led transformation unfolds, the legal saga continues. Evans Hotels’ lawsuit has largely been dismissed, but a pivotal claim tied to SeaWorld remains under appeal. This ongoing litigation frames the ideological stakes: are unions restraining developers or democratizing power?
Simultaneously, the labor–business clash reignites over a proposed $25 minimum wage for tourism workers. Labor champions the ordinance; business leaders, including the San Diego Lodging Association and Regional Chamber of Commerce, contemplate referendum resistance.
Why This Matters Now
Today, labor unions in San Diego are more than interest groups—they are architects of policy, builders of infrastructure, and funders of democracy. Their influence touches wage equity, urban development, affordable housing, and civic inclusion. As this new era unfolds, the public is invited to engage—whether by following unfolding trials, studying municipal ballots, or joining dialogues on labor’s evolving role.
Call to Action: Explore how labor’s rise is shaping San Diego’s future—and discover how communities, businesses, and policymakers can collaborate in this powerful new era. Visit our website to learn more, participate in upcoming forums, and stay informed on labor’s next chapters.