CFA Vice President and Sacramento State Professor Margarita Berta-Ávilawas honored as a “Labor Leader All-Star” at the 24th Annual “Salute to Labor” hosted by the Sacramento Central Labor Council (CLC), AFL-CIO, celebrating the brilliant women of the labor movement.

The “Local Labor Leaders All-Stars” category this year sought to recognize women labor leaders who are exemplars of what make our unions great in the Sacramento region. The award is given to individuals who have shown exceptional commitment to advancing workers’ rights, social justice, and the labor movement in our community. 

Fabrizio Sasso, Executive Director of the Sacramento CLC, explained why Berta-Ávila received the award:

“Margarita Berta-Ávila has long been one of the strongest voices in our local labor movement for some time now and it seemed appropriate that the Sacramento Central Labor Council acknowledge her because of her unwavering dedication to advocating for faculty, students, and the broader working class,” he said. Her leadership and activism within the California Faculty Association and beyond have made a significant impact, particularly in her efforts to uplift marginalized voices and fight for her members. 

“We are thrilled to honor Berta-Ávila for her tireless work in advancing the values that strengthen our labor movement.”  

A full list of honorees is below.

Labor Leader All-Stars

  • Margarita Berta-Ávila, California Faculty Association
  • Amy Day, AFSCME Local 3299
  • Nikki Milevsky, Sacramento City Teachers Association
  • Anica Walls, SEIU 1000

Union Staff All-Stars

  • Omega Brewer-Gonzalez, SEIU Local 1000
  • Felicia Garlanger, Operating Engineers Local 3
  • Erin Gibbens, JATC
  • Donna Rauch, UFCW Local 8
  • Ivory Watts, SEIU Local 2015

Elected Official All-Stars

  • Zima Creason, San Juan School Board
  • Caity Maple, Sacramento City Council, District 5
  • Karina Talamantes, Sacramento City Council, District 3
  • Paula Villezcaz, San Juan School Board

The Women of IBEW 1245:

Brenda Balcazar, Danielle Bonds, Nicole Brooks, Kim Camatti, Maria Caratachea, Latoya Carter, Erica Cruz Davalos, Iyasha Davis, Cecelia De La Torre, Mona Garcia, Rocio Gianelli, Nilda Houlgin, Kayela Jones, Liz McInnis, Serena Moss, Graciela Nunez, Eileen Purcell, Que Thompson, Charlotte Stevens, Serrital Stovall, and Aileen Zuehlke.

Special honorees included, Assemblymember Liz Ortega, Sacramento Central Labor Council Office Manager Teresa Villasenor, and California Labor Federation President Lorena Gonzalez-Fletcher.

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