[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 16]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 21946]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     CONGRATULATIONS TO MARY GRILLO

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BOB FILNER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, October 6, 2004

  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker and colleagues, I want to take this 
opportunity to recognize and congratulate Mary Grillo, the Secretary-
Treasurer of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 2028 
who is being honored by the Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice for 
her many years of dedicated service in advocating for worker justice 
and dignity for employees in work places throughout San Diego County.
  Mary started out as a Wellesley College student interning for SEIU in 
Boston and at an early age saw firsthand the injustice that many 
workers face. After several years of work with the International Union, 
Mary came to work as an organizer in San Diego in 1987. At the time, 
SEIU Local 102 was a 1,600-member union on decline, but after teaming 
up with Eliseo Medina, Mary helped to transform Local 102 into the 
second largest union and one of the most powerfully political unions in 
San Diego County: SEIU, Local 2028.
  Since 1996, Mary has served as executive Director of SEIU Local 2028, 
representing over 14,000 workers in many different jobs--ranging from 
janitor to librarian, racetrack program seller to registered nurse, 
housekeeper to code enforcement officer. In addition, she has acted as 
spokesperson for not only the workers she represents, but also for all 
working people in San Diego County.
  Mary has led the effort to increase wages and benefits for immigrant 
and low-wage workers, has worked to expand health care coverage to the 
County's 650,000 uninsured workers, and has helped to create good jobs 
in the region.
  In local 2028, Mary has worked tirelessly to bring together this 
large and diverse organization based on the principle of justice for 
all. And as an important mark of all leaders, Mary has found and 
developed many leaders who lead their co-workers in organizing and 
building economic strength in their industries.
  Congratulations to Mary Grillo for her work in fighting for justice 
for the workers of San Diego County.

                          ____________________