No. 38: Capitol Weekly’s Top 100

38. Art Pulaski

A staunch union supporter since he was a teenager, Art Pulaski is the Executive-Secretary Treasurer and Chief Officer of the California Labor Federation, whose affiliates represent about 2.1 million California union members in 1,200 manufacturing, transportation, construction and public sector unions. The Labor Fed’s big focus this year is beating back the attempt to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom, which Pulaski’s group characterizes as an attempt financed by “anti-union millionaires” to boost Republicans. The Fed has set up phone banks, precinct walking, text blasts and the like to reach voters. Organized labor is always heavily represented on Capitol Weekly’s Top 100 list, and the Labor Fed shows why: It can rally the troops and put boots on the ground in a way that their opponents cannot. Pulaski has been a union supporter since age 16 when he worked at a supermarket and joined the meat cutters’ union. Since he took office at the California Labor Federation 24 years ago, the group has more than doubled in size.

Updated Aug. 25, 2021