Eloisa Gonzalez

Eloisa Gonzalez, 28, has worked as a Service Medallion janitor at tech-giant Oracle Corps. for more than 8 years and is paid $11 an hour, barely enough to cover her monthly bills.

With two young children at home--Alejandro, 5-years-old, and Selena, 18-months-old--Eloisa and her husband work very hard and make sacrifices, such as working different shifts to save money.  "I would love to spend more time at home with my family, but my husband works a day shift, and I work nights so that we don't have to spend money on a babysitter."

Eloisa is fearful that tech companies in the Bay area will raise the cost of family health insurance. "If the cost goes any higher, I won't be able to afford health care for my family, and private health insurance is too expensive. If my son or daughter fell ill, I would have to turn to Medicaid."

Though Eloisa only sleeps four hours a night, she makes sure to encourage her children to work hard and go after their dreams. "My son tells me he will work hard so that I don't have to work the night shift anymore."

With the union, Eloisa feels more confident in her job. "Before the union, my supervisor would threaten to fire me and make me cry in front of my coworkers. Now, I realize that when I stand together with my coworkers, we have power.

From her coworkers to her neighbors, Eloisa knows that increased prices in basic necessities are affecting her entire community. That's why she is standing up for fair wages and guaranteed affordable health care at work. "More than anything, I am fighting for my children's future. My coworkers and I are just standing up for our children to have a successful life."