Trish Niswander

David Cruz

Ramsey Bissex

for City Vice Presidents

Alice Navarro

Morgan Davis

Raven Prettyman

for County Vice Presidents

AFSCME 1624 Election

Wednesday October 15 - Wednesday October 29

If you did not get your ballot, email elections@afscme1624.org

You Deserve More
The workers who make our community happen should not be struggling to get by. That’s why we demanded a progressive COLA to uplift the members who need it most and build a path toward more equitable pay. We’ve had big wins at the City and continue to fight for fair compensation at County. Our paychecks should be enough to not only survive, but thrive!

Your Issues
Are Our Issues

Defend Your Work, Defend Public Services
Our work is under attack from state caps, federal cuts, and privatization. We will fight back against layoffs, poorly planned departmental reorganizations, and bad policies designed to make workers quit. We will defend equity and justice, demand permanent union jobs, and push for fully funded public services that truly meet our community’s needs.

A Union That Works For You
Our union must be stronger and member-driven. The Board should be prioritizing the members’ agenda. That means training workers on their rights, uniting grievances into collective action, demanding safe conditions, building worksite organizing, and ensuring leadership always prioritizes the voices of members.

Top Five Wins

• Progressive COLA & Fair Pay
  Secured overwhelming member support for a progressive COLA, helped win raises at City of Austin, and created the Travis County Compensation Work Group to fight wage gaps and compression.
  

• Stronger Union Democracy
  Protected members’ rights to bring issues to the floor, created Compensation and Budget Townhalls, and ensured accurate, timely minutes and financial transparency.
  

• Grievance Transparency & Representation
  Championed calls to improve data collection, identify repeat offenders, and push for policies that ensure fair, accountable representation for every worker.
  

• Workplace Wins
  Organized the telework and pay stipend campaign, led the Austin Public Health Day of Action, and fought for heat and water safety protections.

• Community Power
  Built advocacy through partnerships, helped stop a new gas plant, opposed an unsustainable police contract, and increased AFSCME 1624 visibility in the community.

Our Upcoming Fights

• Protect Jobs & Increase Worker Flexibility
  Fight back against layoffs, reorgs, and attrition that quietly strip departments of resources and push workers out. Demand the City create a real telework policy that is consistently implemented, supports the City’s climate goals, and compensates workers who cannot work remotely.
  

• Fair Pay for All

  Secure equitable raises for City and County workers, fix pay compression, expand stipends, and keep housing affordability at the center of compensation demands.
  

• Transparency & Representation

  Strengthen the grievance process, demand accountability for repeat offenders, and guarantee every member gets fair representation.
  

• Public Services, Not Privatization

  Stop privatization schemes and cuts, press for fully funded services, and turn contract jobs into permanent union jobs.
  

Workers Who Work for You

Ben Suddaby - County Purchasing Office
Solidarity is an action. For many years I have been a loud and strong supporter of my union and the workers that keep the City and County running. All year round, I can be found speaking up for workers at Council, Commissioners Court, boards & commissions, community organizations, rallies, pickets and strikes. Solidarity is our strength and showing up to support each other is how we build a stronger union. As a proud member of the biggest local in Austin, I am dedicated to empowering all union members and uplifting our voices so that we grow in numbers, influence, and visibility as strong leaders in a fighting labor movement.

Cynthia Simons - County Justice Planning
I bring a decade of organizing and policy advocacy experience along with meaningful and thoughtful relationships within the community. As a union member I stood alongside fellow members fighting against Medicaid cuts and for rights of workers at the Texas legislature. I have walked proudly with union members in marches and parades with passion for equality and fair compensation. Fighting for the rights of workers, underserved communities and marginalized groups, I center what the people need and lead in bold authenticity, grit, and transparency. I was named 40 under 40 by the Texas Coalition of Black Democrats and have received a Resolution from the Texas Legislature for my work in supporting second chance employment or reentry initiatives.

Whitney Holt - County Health & Human Services
As Secretary-Treasurer, I’ve put transparency, equity, and member-led priorities at the center of everything I do. I am the first AFSCME 1624 treasurer to secure full access to all financial records and have used this access to continually educate our membership on our union’s financial status. I established a Budget Town Hall to facilitate member feedback and have relentlessly advocated to ensure needs are met. I founded the Workforce Housing Committee that laid the groundwork toward our progressive COLA demands and our union pushing for more equitable pay.

Ashlee Kraus - City Public Health
I don’t just talk about change, I do the work. I organized at City Hall to save jobs and protect vital programs after federal funding cuts, and as Recording Secretary I’ve improved our minutes and record-keeping so every member stays informed. From organizing actions to pushing for fair pay and accountability, I’ve proven that our union can live up to the worth of our work. If elected, I’ll keep walking my talk and turning our shared values into real results for every member.

Trish Niswander - City Technology Services
I’ve worked to make our union more responsive, inclusive, and ready to fight for every member. With more than 8 years of city service across multiple departments, I know our challenges and our power. I’m running for reelection to keep elevating your voice, winning material gains, and building a union that has our back. Let’s keep transforming together.

David Cruz - City Housing
I’m a rank-and-file organizer who knows that climate change is already causing serious harm to the safety of our workers and community. My work has helped handle bad bosses, stop a new gas plant, found the National AFSCME Climate Caucus, and elect labor-backed candidates. City workers can trust that I will amplify their voice and work to build a fighting union.

Ramsey Bissex - City Fire
I joined Austin Fire to get a union job after being laid off multiple times in the private sector. In software engineering, we are too used to industry wide cutbacks designed to slash wages and leave the remaining workers with worse workplace conditions. Our union gives me something I never had before, a voice on the job. Our union’s strength comes from all of us standing together in solidarity, speaking with one voice. When we are united, we have the power to defend our rights, improve our conditions, and build the workplace we deserve.

Alice Navarro - County Health & Human Services
I am a social worker and union organizer who helped co-found the United Workers of Integral Care and now lead efforts in AFSCME 1624 for family-sustaining wages. I will continue fighting for fair pay and respect for all county workers. As a trusted voice for my coworkers, I stand strong for AFSCME and proudly represent our union in every setting.

Morgan Davis - County District Attorney
I was just reminded of my favorite quote that reminds me of our union. The quote directs us to build a table where all are welcome. I started at the County answering phones in a basement at the old courthouse, then to the District Clerk. For a bit, I left to work for Child Protective Services, and finally on to Judicial Aide at the District Attorney’s Office. I have washed the floors, answered the phones, and been honored to work beside my heroes. I want to continue to work with my heroes by representing Travis County on the board. We all cross over together by working at the table we will all build.

Raven Prettyman - County Transportation & Natural Resources
I believe our County needs stronger representation on the Executive Board. Too often, the voices of the people who are essential and serve our community selflessly every day go unheard. I plan to change that. I’ll fight to make sure Travis County workers have a real seat at the table, and that decisions reflect the needs, challenges, and experiences of those on the front lines. Together, we can build a more responsive, united, and effective union.

Your Union,
Your Voice

We’re running to listen to your voice, amplify your demands, and stand with you to win a better Austin and Travis County for working class people. Let’s talk!

If you have questions about the election like how you can vote or when you will receive your ballot, please contact the 1624 Elections Committee at elections1624@gmail.com.