General Kat

On the final day of #FilipinoAmericanHistoryMonth, we share the history of Isang Bagsak, otherwise known as the Unity Clap. IFPTE Local 21 is proud to carry this legacy forward. When one of us rises, we all rise!

Voice-over performed by IFPTE Local 21 member JR Santos.

Today we honor #LarryItliong, a fearless Filipino American labor leader whose vision and courage helped ignite the farmworker movement. His story reminds us of what is possible when communities come together for fairness and dignity on the job.

Labor, community groups rally against Trump's threats of an ICE invasion - 48 hills White House backs off—for the moment—but the community is organized and ready

If the federal government wants to help San Francisco, IFPTE Local 21 President Bianca Polovina said: “Stop cutting public services...That’s the way the federal government can help us, not send an invasion into the San Francisco Bay Area.”
48hills.org/2025/10/labo...

Today we gathered on the steps of SF City Hall in solidarity with our union siblings, community members, and elected officials to spread power—not panic. We can protect each other in our workplaces and in our community.

We must pass it to protect our communities and our healthcare. Prop 50 gives voters the power to approve temporary maps and protect our future. #YESonca50

It's #FilipinoAmericanHistoryMonth ☀️✊️ and it is a critical time for the AANHPI community to participate in our democracy.

We joined the SF Labor Council the last couple weekends to get out the vote for #YESon50 in California! 🗳

@californialabor.bsky.social

Video Firings of immigration judges are 'politically motivated': Union president IFPTE union president Matt Biggs discusses the impact that the Trump administration's firing of immigration judges is having on the court system.

"Whether this Administration likes it or not, immigrants in this country are entitled to due process. When they don't get a fair shake from an independent judge in immigration court, they're being denied due process." — Matt Biggs, President of IFPTE @ifpte.bsky.social

Shame on them all.

🚨🚨 ATTENTION @governor.ca.gov 🚨🚨
@californialabor.bsky.social sponsored #SB7 is sitting on your desk, awaiting your signature. This bill enacts common sense AI safeguards by making sure that human workers cannot be disciplined or fired by an algorithm. (1/6)

October is Filipino American History Month! ✊

We’re proud to call the Filipino Cultural Heritage District home for our San Francisco union hall. We encourage you to check out a new exhibit at YBCA titled "MAKIBAKA: A Living Legacy" ybca.org/event/makibaka-a-living-legacy

Happy Labor Day!

Today Local 21 joined thousands of our union siblings in a march through San Francisco to stop the billionaire takeover of our democracy. ✊

#WorkersOverBillionaires
It's #LaborDay and we marched with thousands of people on the streets of San Francisco united on the following demands:

Japanese American internment survivors protest possible ICE detention center at former Dublin prison With the rhythmic pounding of taiko drums echoing through Don Biddle Community Park, a large group of Japanese Americans and their allies gathered Saturday afternoon to voice opposition to the propose...

"In many ways, we felt like America had turned their back on us. We don't want to be a part of that again. So we are showing up where we can. We're raising our voices. We're protesting. We're getting the grannies and the grandpas out to tell their stories."

#ICEOutOfDublin

Now, ICE has conducted multiple site visits to assess reopening this site for immigrant detention. We cannot let this happen. Not here in the Bay, not anywhere. #ICEOutOfDublin

The former federal women’s prison in Dublin — officially closed in December 2024 — was shut down after years of rampant abuse, medical neglect, and systemic mistreatment, particularly targeting immigrant women.

APALA SF & Alameda Chapters unite! ✊️
ICE melts under resistance! 🧊🔥

We joined Tsuru for Solidarity -- drawing on the legacy of Japanese American incarceration during WWII to resist its repetition today.

They betrayed us. President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans promised to make life better for working families. Instead, they passed the so-called big, beautiful bill—a massive transfer of wealth from working...

Our coalition of 149 ideologically diverse and distinctive national organizations collectively representing tens of millions of people will remember who turned their backs on working families—and who we can count on to fight for us. www.aft.org/they-betraye...

At the APALA Convention opening panel "Resistance: Labor Leading the Way" our Local 21 delegation and SPEEA members heard from unions presidents from AFGE, AFSCME, AFT and IFPTE union President Matt Biggs, on how we are fighting attacks on workers, unions and our democracy.

Whether on the picket line, in civil disobedience, or organizing majority action, Kat has done it all and taught others how to do the same. Local 21 is proud and excited to support Kat General in her new role at APALA.

Kat's 20+ years in the labor movement are defined by winning for the people. Even when the odds are against us Kat charts and implements a path to victory. (2/3)

Congrats to IFPTE Local 21 Field Director Kat General (@kaygenn.bsky.social), newly elected 1st Vice President of APALA! Kat's served on the APALA National Executive Board since 2019, the same year she won the Art Takei Leadership Award.

🧵(1/3)

SF Chapter members had a blast at the APALA 18th Biennial Convention- Solidarity. Resistance. Unity. this last weekend.

Congratulations to our SF Chapter President Kat General who was elected to serve as the APALA National 1st Vice President! 👏

🚨 HAPPENING NOW: SF city workers just shut down the Board of Supervisors meeting. Cuts to public health, emergency management, and homelessness services will impact all of us.

“Let’s remember it is the workers and the immigrants who make this city and this country function. Not the billionaires, not the corporations, and most definitely not a king!” #NoKingsDay
— Local 21 Member Natalie Gee

All power to the people, no human is illegal!

APALA SF crew out at the #NoKings SF action today! Members Natalie Gee (IFPTE 21) & Cassondra Curiel (UESF) rallied the crowd from the stage. 📣✊️

@itsnataliegee.bsky.social
@pinoyamerican.bsky.social
@kaygenn.bsky.social

Emergency Press Conference today on Trump's attack on immigrants and racist travel ban.
⚡End the Travel Ban
⚡Stop the ICE raids and deportations
⚡Defend immigrant communities

#BayAreaResists #SolidarityKnowsNoBorders #NoBan #StopTheRaids #RepealTheBan
@itsnataliegee.bsky.social
@kaygenn.bsky.social

Those of us who were fortunate to know Luisa, to conspire with Luisa, need to continue her legacy by doing the work to fight injustice and make the change happen in our society. Rest in love & power Luisa. ✊️❤️💐

@pinoyamerican.bsky.social

I knew her as a mentor and friend. I always admired how Luisa's actions were rooted and guided by the love she had for immigrant and working class people. Luisa is an ancestor now and will continue to watch over and guide us.

My heart broke with the news of Luisa's passing last week. We lost a giant in our movement. The world knew Luisa as the first AANHPI Executive Vice President of SEIU and a founding member of APALA. She was a fierce, passionate and bad ass leader.