Council 36 appoints new executive director
Matthew A. Maldonado has built a distinguished career in labor organizing, beginning in 1990 as a rank-and-file member of Teamsters Local 630 in Los Angeles. After ten years of active membership, he transitioned to a pivotal role at SEIU Local 434B, where he played an essential role in organizing home care workers across California for eight years. Notably, in 2000, he spearheaded the first-ever organizing campaign for In-Home Supportive Service (IHSS) providers, successfully securing representation rights for over 13,000 workers and negotiating their first union contract.
From 2004 to 2008, Matthew led the consolidation of six local unions representing home care workers, ultimately creating the largest Long-Term Care Union in California. In 2010, he joined United Domestic Workers of America (UDW), AFSCME Local 3930, where he continued his advocacy for IHSS providers. As the Director of Internal Operations, he oversaw collective bargaining and field services across 21 California counties, managing the largest department within UDW, which included 76 full-time employees and 45 part-time staff.
A pivotal moment in Matthew’s career came in 2014 with the Harris v. Quinn U.S. Supreme Court decision, which critically affected the home care industry by stripping agency fee rights and impacting nearly 30,000 IHSS providers under UDW's jurisdiction. Despite this setback, he and his team mounted a successful campaign to re-organize workers, and UDW now represents over 100,000 members statewide.
Matthew’s unwavering commitment to improving the lives of low-income families is evident in his dedication to securing livable wages, benefits, and social justice reforms for all workers. Beyond organizing, he has been deeply committed to leadership development within the union. In 2017, he founded the UDW Leadership Academy, which trains members to become stronger advocates for themselves and their communities. The Academy educates members on union solidarity, public speaking, political engagement, and leadership development. Under his leadership, 500 members have graduated from the program.
With over 24 years of labor experience, Matthew has played a leading role in organizing campaigns across all 58 counties in California, with a primary focus on supporting IHSS providers—caregivers, primarily women, many of whom care for family members and face challenges such as low wages and limited access to worker protections.
In 2024, Matthew was recruited as the Field Director for AFSCME District Council 36, which represents 70 local unions across Southern California. In this role, he helped the District Council identify and implement its top four priorities to build political power, increase membership, create a culture of solidarity, and achieve financial stability.
On March 2, 2025, at the District Council Convention, newly elected Executive Board members hired Matthew as the Executive Director of District Council 36, recognizing his leadership and vision for the future of the labor movement.
Born and raised in the Boyle Heights area of East Los Angeles, Matthew attributes his strong work ethic and commitment to his parents, who raised nine children with limited resources. He is the proud father of four children—Andrew, Ryan, Angela, and Isabella—and has been happily married to his wife, Yvonne, for 17 years.