“Every board meeting, every conference, every labor summit—I don't speak as one leader. I speak with the collective voice of my 42,000 members.”
— UNAC/UHCP President, Charmaine Morales
Leadership & Experience
Leading at Every Level of the Labor Movement
For more than a decade, Charmaine Morales has represented healthcare professionals at the local, state, national, and international levels. Her leadership experience spans union governance, collective bargaining, political advocacy, workforce development, and labor-management partnerships.
Current Leadership Roles
- UNAC/UHCP President (October 2022 – Present)
- AFSCME International Vice President (August 2024 – Present)
- NUHHCE Secretary-Treasurer (November 2023 – Present)
- Los Angeles County Federation of Labor Vice President (March 2018 – Present)
- California Federation of Labor Vice President (March 2023 – Present)
- Alliance Vice Chair (January 2023 – Present)
- Ben Hudnall Memorial Trust Trustee (October 2022 – Present)
- Labor Management Partnership Trust Trustee (October 2022 – Present)
- APALA National Executive Board Member (AFSCME Appointee) (August 2025 – Present)
Previous Leadership Roles
- UNAC/UHCP Executive Vice President (October 2016 – October 2022)
- UNAC/UHCP State Secretary (May 2013 – October 2016)
- NUHHCE Vice President (2013 – May 2023)
- NUHHCE Interim Secretary-Treasurer (May 2023 – November 2023)
- UNAC/UHCP Political Endorsement Committee Chair (2013 – September 2025)
National Bargaining Leadership
-
Kaiser National Bargaining Team – 2015
Total Health and Workplace Safety Subgroup -
Kaiser National Bargaining Team – 2018
Labor Quad Chair, Organizational Effectiveness Subgroup -
Kaiser National Bargaining Team – 2021
Labor Co-Lead, Patient and Worker Safety Subgroup - Kaiser National Bargaining Economic Subgroup – 2025
Professional & Community Leadership
- UNAC/UHCP Membership Matters Academy Executive Sponsor
- UNAC/UHCP DEI Steering Committee Executive Sponsor
- Highly Favored: A Blessing To Others
Featured Speaking Engagements
- 2026 Union Women's Conference – Plenary Speaker
- 2025 Union Women's Conference – Featured Speaker
- 2025 Progressive Labor Summit – Featured Speaker
- 2025 Orange County Labor Council MLK Breakfast – Featured Speaker
- Celebrating Latina Leadership in Labor – Panelist
Awards & Recognition
- 2026 Woman of the Year – California Assembly District 69
- 2026 AAPI Heritage Month Honoree
- 2025 Franklin & Eleanor Roosevelt Trailblazer Award
- 2024 Women of Distinction Award Recipient
A Proven Record of Leadership
For more than a decade, Charmaine has worked to strengthen worker power, advance healthcare professionals, and build a stronger labor movement. Her experience at every level of leadership helps ensure UNAC/UHCP members have a strong voice wherever decisions are made.
Growth • Unity • Experience
Because Every Member Matters.
National Recognition & Media Coverage
- Meeting with HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra
-
Times of San Diego
Kaiser Picket Actions -
ABC News
31,000 Healthcare Workers Strike
National Advocacy & Healthcare Leadership
In 2023, Charmaine Morales joined AFSCME President Lee Saunders and healthcare leaders from across the country in a meeting with U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra to discuss the nationwide healthcare staffing crisis and advocate for stronger support for frontline healthcare workers.
Representing healthcare professionals from UNAC/UHCP, Charmaine shared concerns about staffing shortages, workplace safety, burnout, and the growing challenges facing nurses and healthcare workers across the nation.
Her participation reflected UNAC/UHCP's longstanding commitment to safe staffing, quality patient care, and ensuring healthcare professionals have a voice in state and national policy discussions.
“Healthcare professionals must have a seat at the table when decisions are made about staffing, patient care, and the future of our healthcare system.”
Leading the Fight for Safe Patient Care
In 2025, thousands of Kaiser Permanente healthcare professionals across Southern California participated in informational pickets advocating for safe staffing, quality patient care, and stronger support for frontline healthcare workers.
As President of UNAC/UHCP, Charmaine Morales helped lead the effort, representing more than 35,000 healthcare professionals across California and Hawaii during national contract negotiations with Kaiser Permanente.
“When we say protect care and respect workers, we are setting a new standard. This is not just for Kaiser Permanente. This is for healthcare across this country.”
— Charmaine Morales, RN
The action highlighted Charmaine's ongoing commitment to safe staffing, workplace protections, and ensuring healthcare professionals have a strong voice in decisions affecting patients and communities.
Leading Historic Healthcare Actions
In January 2026, more than 31,000 nurses and healthcare professionals represented by UNAC/UHCP participated in one of the largest healthcare strikes in the nation, spanning hospitals and clinics across California and Hawaii.
As President of UNAC/UHCP, Charmaine Morales served as a leading voice for healthcare professionals advocating for safe staffing, quality patient care, workplace protections, and fair compensation.
“Kaiser's own communications to employees reveal exactly why we are striking. Instead of addressing unsafe staffing and patient care concerns, Kaiser is issuing messages that pressure workers not to strike.”
— Charmaine Morales, RN
The action highlighted Charmaine's commitment to protecting patients, supporting healthcare professionals, and ensuring frontline workers have a strong voice in decisions that affect care delivery throughout California and Hawaii.