Dian was the first person in her family to graduate from college. She is the oldest of eight children, and she wanted a career where she could make a living for her family and also give back to the community. Her career started in a nursing home, and then went on to work for a hospital and a sexual assault treatment center. She found her voice while working as a registered nurse, where she and her co-workers successfully organized the nurses in their facility. There was no looking back. She has been a member of SEIU for 29 years, mother of three sons, and has one grandson. Dian was president of SEIU Healthcare WI before coming to Local 73 where she was asked to serve as co-trustee during the union’s transition period. As a labor leader for over 20 years, her commitment and dedication has never wavered. She is proud to currently serve as president of SEIU Local 73, since November 2018, where she’s committed to building a strong, growing, and politically active union. Palmer holds a B.S. in Nursing from Carroll College/Columbia School of Nursing and is a State of Wisconsin Public Health Nurse specializing in Chronic Diseases in Minority Populations.

As a proud U.S. Air Force veteran and third-generation union member with over 30 years of experience leading at all levels of the labor movement, I bring deep commitment to member-centered advocacy and workplace justice.

My journey began as an electrician graduating from the IBEW Local 357 Apprenticeship program in 1994, where I served as Vice President and Organizing Director for Local 357 through 2002. I then joined SEIU as an International Representative, holding various roles from 2003 to 2017 before joining Local 73 as Chief of Staff in 2017. I was elected Executive Vice President in 2018 and have now stepped into the role of Secretary-Treasurer.

Throughout my career, I have championed workplace and social justice by building power with members, innovating our organizing strategies, and setting high standards for the work we do. My military service and three decades of union experience have instilled in me the values of integrity, accountability, and service—principles I bring to every decision.

As Secretary-Treasurer of Local 73, I commit to leading with intellect, integrity, and intensity. We will continue to raise the bar, inspire our members, and fight for the contracts and conditions our members deserve. Together, we will build a stronger union and advance economic and social justice for all working families.

Stacia is an experienced organizer with a decade of experience working to build power and win in SEIU. Stacia worked behind the scenes to develop and implement strike strategy, execute actions, and organize thousands of non-union workers into the Union.

In three years as Executive Vice President, Stacia successfully led the campaign to oust Aramark, oversaw a historic grievance settlement for $2.2 Million- the second largest in Local 73 history, won close to $4 Million in back wages, expanded 73 positions from roughly 8,000 to 12,000, increased the floor for full time employees to $40,000, a new minimum wage of $20.15 for custodians up from $16.80, protected crossing guard benefits, 8 hours for all security officers, 6 hours for bus aides, strengthened contract language, and implemented bimonthly job title meetings to better equip members with the ability to enforce their rights. We have major fights ahead: fully-funded schools, elected school board races, and unemployment.

Stacia sits in numerous coalition spaces and holds relationships across community, politicians, and labor leaders.

Trumaine Reeves is a fourth-generation union member with over 17 years of service to Local 73. A Chicago native and Mather High School graduate (Go Rangers!), Reeves has led and represented members across Chicago Public Schools, Cook County, the Chicago Park District, UIC, and the Schools and Municipal Division.
As director for the Cook County unit, Reeves supported members during the historic 18-day strike in 2021, the longest in local history. This collective action resulted in stronger job security provisions, increased wages, and improved workplace dignity and respect for all Cook County members.
As director of CPS, Reeves helped negotiate the current collective bargaining agreement, which established a $40,000 minimum salary for full-time employees, strengthened layoff protections, removed board custodians from BoMA, and secured historic raises.

Roy was born in India and immigrated to the US. He completed his Masters in Science at Kerala University, India. After arriving here, he received his diploma in Radiology at the Cook County School of Radiology and later completed a certificate program in Cardiac Interventional Technology at the College of DuPage. He is currently working in the Cath Lab at Cook County Hospital as a Cath Lab Technologist. He serves as Chief Steward for technician and technologist contracts. He has represented his brothers and sisters in many grievances and have provided successful outcomes while serving as the Midwest regional chair person for the SEIU API caucus.

Sean Ortiz has been a member of the Executive Board for Region 5 (Chicago Park District Division), an active Union Steward, served on the Contract Bargaining Team and the supervisor premium committee. He has 22 years of service to the Chicago Park District and is currently the Park Supervisor for Gill Park.

Marketta Paylor is a Driver License Hearing Officer with the Illinois Secretary of State Department of Motor Vehicles and has worked for the Secretary of State’s office for 16 years. She serves as Chief Steward, Executive Board Member, and sat on the Bargaining Committee for the last contract.

Alfred Rodriguez has been a dedicated Special Education Classroom Assistant with Chicago Public Schools (CPS) for fourteen years. He currently works at Northside Learning Center and has served as a union steward with Local 73 for five years. He is a committed member of the CPS Contract Action Team and was a crucial voice on the Committee of the Future that helped pave the structure for a new Local 73. When he’s not in the classroom with his students, he is assisting in the annual Special Olympics.

Lavitta (Vee) Steward has been an employee at UIC for more than 15 years. She currently serves as an Administrative Assistant in the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science. Vee comes from a tradition of inspirational women and brings robust life experience to the position of Member VP from a history of helping those in need. Vee draws experience from being a committee member within her church community, an advocate for coworkers and patients at UIC, and from her own life as a single parent, mother, and grandmother. She is a proud SEIU Local 73 member as well as Chief Steward, Bargaining Committee member, and served as Contract Captain in the 2020 campaign. In 2019 and 2020 Vee served as a Delegate to the Leadership Assembly for SEIU Local 73. She is also an elected member of the State Universities Civil Service Advisory Committee.