[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 18 (Wednesday, February 6, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E106]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             HONORING KRISTINA ``KRISTY'' MARIE SERMERSHEIM

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ZOE LOFGREN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 6, 2013

  Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to acknowledge and honor Kristina 
``Kristy'' Marie Sermersheim. I first met Kristy more than 30 years 
ago. I was a brash candidate for office not backed by the establishment 
and not expected to win. Kristy was a union activist who didn't know 
the meaning of the word ``no''. Together we challenged the conventional 
wisdom. Voters decided that an emphasis on children and families was 
what they cared about. I was elected to the Board of Supervisors of 
Santa Clara County. That same year, in 1981, she became a full-time 
Service Employees International Union (SEIU) staff member.
  The financial roof fell in on the county shortly thereafter, the 
impact of Proposition 13. Neither of us wanted a reduction in services 
to people in need. But we faced the imperative of reductions.
  We worked together to cut the budget, to make sure that as we dealt 
with the budget reality we protected the most vulnerable and never 
scapegoated our employees. Kristy Sermersheim proved her bona fides in 
those tough times. She was smart, pragmatic but idealistic. She had 
values. She stood up for her members and she stood up for those in 
need. She was a star.
  She continued to represent workers for another 32 years. As a 
passionate advocate for workers' rights, she held a range of positions 
on various local, state, national, and international organizations, 
including SEIU Local 715, SEIU International Union, South Bay American 
Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) 
Labor Council, California Labor Federation, SEIU Public Services 
Division, and SEIU California State Council. Kristy assumed the 
leadership role of SEIU local 715, the largest union representing 
employees of Santa Clara County.
  Born in New Albany, Indiana, during elementary school, her family 
lived in Michigan, San Diego, and Long Beach, California. In 1961, her 
family moved to San Jose. In 1967, she graduated from Leigh High 
School. Kristy's good grades earned accolades as a National Merit 
Scholar Finalist and she was voted ``Most Likely to Succeed'' by her 
classmates. After she graduated, she took classes at San Jose State 
University and began working as a Santa Clara County Social Services 
Eligibility Worker in the Welfare Department.
  Kristy has devoted her life to social justice and workers' rights. 
She served 11 years as a member leader for the Santa Clara County 
Employees Association.
  As head of the former SEIU Local 715 in Santa Clara and San Mateo 
counties, Kristy expanded the union from 5,000 members working for four 
employers to more than 30,000 members with over 20 different contracts. 
She led the consolidation of five unions, including Local 715, to form 
the new SEIU Local 521. As Chief Elected Office of SEIU 521, she fought 
on behalf of 57,000 workers throughout North and Central California. 
Under her leadership, the County of Santa Clara and SEIU negotiated an 
$80 million settlement that established pay equity by removing 
discrimination in wage-setting for women and people of color.
  We worked together for rights for women. Kristy helped make sure that 
the union represented a female worker in the county roads department in 
an affirmative action case that went all the way to the United States 
Supreme Court. County government was her partner in the case. I 
remember so well listening to the oral arguments on that case as a 
young County Supervisor. We were proud that local government and the 
union were partners in the quest for equal rights for women.
  The case confirmed that government agencies must consider previous 
discrimination history as well as qualifications when making hiring 
decisions. In recognition of over 40 years of contributions to the 
social and political advancement of women, Kristy was awarded the South 
Bay AFL-CIO Labor Council's 2012 COPE Award for Service Above Self.
  Throughout her career, Kristy worked together with public workers to 
obtain improvements in working conditions, wages, and benefits. She 
forged alliances with other unions and community groups to improve 
public services to the residents union members serve. Kristy is now 
retired and lives in Morgan Hill with her two sisters, Andrea and 
Teresa. The three sisters have collectively raised their brother's 
children after he passed away. They live with their niece Flori, a 
little dog, and three cats. In her retirement, Kristy wants to help the 
developmentally disabled community and volunteer where she can make a 
difference. I join in honoring her decades of contribution and service 
to the betterment of our society. The community is very fortunate to 
have benefited from her advocacy, dedication, and leadership. She has 
left her mark in the community and I know she will continue to play a 
positive role.

                          ____________________