National Convening Program Books 2014 YEO National Convening Program Book | Page 15

FRIDAY, MAY 16, 2014

15

11:20 AM – 12:35 PM

Promenade Room
A session focusing on how elected officials can build relationships with the labor movement
to create lasting change, support workers and families, and negotiate contracts and services.

Nikki Budzinski

United Food and Commercial Workers
Nikki Budzinski has been working in the labor movement for the past
eight years. Prior to working at the UFCW International Union, she worked
in the political action department of the International Association of Fire
Fighters Union. Before joining the labor movement, Budzinski worked
on numerous political campaigns at the local, state, and federal level. She
has worked on campaigns in Missouri, Illinois, Ohio, Iowa, and Wisconsin.
Budzinski graduated from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana with a
degree in political science and history. In 2013, Budzinski completed the Harvard Trade Union
Program sponsored by the law school in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In her role as associate
director at UFCW, Budzinski oversees federal and state level political planning and budget process
for the legislative and political action department. This work includes coordinating resources
and field activities for individually endorsed candidate campaigns and allied organizations. In
this role, she also manages the federal candidate endorsement process. In addition, Budzinski
coordinates federal legislative strategy related to core UFCW industries, including UFCW member
engagement and federal elected outreach. Budzinski also manages a national internship program
for the UFCW that educates and activates rank and file members to become involved in the
labor movement.

Karundi Williams
Service Employees International Union
Karundi Williams serves as the assistant director of state and local
campaigns for SEIU-Government Relations. In her current role, Williams
manages the union’s national priorities through a robust state program.
She works with local leaders and national allies to drive union-wide policy
and legislative priorities through state and local issue campaigns across
the country. Prior to joining SEIU, she served as the director of government
relations and deputy legislative director for Ohio Governor Ted Strickland. She
also served as the political director for the 2010 Strickland reelection campaign. Williams has
more than 12 years of public policy experience in executive management, legislative strategy,
stakeholder advocacy, and developing and implementing federal and state government policy.
She has served in senior roles including legislative affairs director for the Ohio Department of
Transportation, senior policy and legislative advisor for the Ohio Civil Rights Commission, and
legislative aide to senators and representatives of the Ohio General Assembly. Williams is a
graduate of the Ohio State University. She currently resides in the greater Washington, DC area.

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DETAILED AGENDA

Skills Workshop Series
Back to Basics: Building the Middle Class & Partnerships
with Labor