APC is pleased to welcome Samuel Flores as APC’s newest Union Organizer and Labor Relations Representative. Samuel joined APC in September and is already working with members across the CSU system to protect rights, enforce the contract, and strengthen collective action.
With experience organizing across multiple unions and campuses, Samuel brings both practical knowledge and a deep personal commitment to supporting workers.
A Path Rooted in Advocacy
Samuel is a first-generation Chicano, born and raised in Southern California. His journey into labor organizing began during his undergraduate studies at UC Santa Cruz, where his chosen degree path was in politics and legal studies.
In 2021, Samuel was selected to participate in UC Berkeley’s Labor Summer program. Through that experience, he worked alongside SEIU USWW, supporting organizing efforts with security guards, airport workers, and manufacturing workers across Northern California. That hands-on experience opened the door to a career in labor relations and gave him the tools to support workers on the front lines.
After graduating, Samuel stepped directly into union work, gaining experience with SEIU 2015, which represents in-home caregivers, and AFSCME 3299, which represents patient care and service workers across the UC system.
Experience He Brings to the Work
Samuel has already seen what organized workers can accomplish. During his time with AFSCME 3299, he supported efforts that helped UC workers secure a $25 minimum wage. At UC Davis, he also played a key role in building participation over time, growing rally turnout from dozens to more than 100 members and non-members.
For Samuel, those wins were not about numbers alone. They were about relationship building, consistency, and helping workers recognize their collective power.
His Role at APC
As APC’s new Organizing Representative, being on campuses regularly is central to Samuel’s work. For him, effective organizing starts with presence and relationship building across the CSU system.
“Being able to travel across the state and build relationships with workers is really important to me. It’s about talking with people about their struggles and helping them understand why being part of the union matters.”
Spending time on campuses allows him to meet members where they work, listen to their concerns, and support stewards in building participation. It also creates opportunities to share successful organizing efforts from one campus to another, strengthening APC as a statewide union.
Attending rallies and collective actions is also an important part of his role. Showing up alongside members during actions reinforces that organizing is a shared effort and that APC staff and members are working toward common goals together.
“I’m going to do everything in my power to motivate workers to get out there.”
Labor Relations Representative
As a Labor Relations Representative with APC, Samuel supports members in several key ways:
- Interpreting contract language and helping members understand their rights
- Supporting employees who are facing discipline
- Filing grievances when contractual violations occur
- Assisting with organizing efforts and collective actions
He has also begun participating in bargaining team meetings, gaining firsthand insight into negotiations with the CSU and the challenges members face at the table.
A Message to APC Members
In his short time with APC, Samuel has already led cases independently and supported early successes. He wants members to know that he approaches this work as a shared fight, not a transactional role.
“I’m in this fight with them. It’s not something I see as separate from my personal life.”
From contract enforcement to organizing for improvements, he sees himself standing alongside members, invested both professionally and personally in the outcomes. His goal is to help members understand their contract, feel confident asserting their rights, and build a strong bargaining unit through participation and solidarity.
Looking Ahead
APC is proud to welcome Samuel Flores to the team and looks forward to the work ahead. His experience, perspective, and commitment strengthen APC’s ability to advocate for members across the CSU system.
Members are encouraged to stay engaged, connect with their campus stewards, and continue participating in collective efforts that move APC forward.