Jean Cohen
“It wasn't enough to invest in labor organizing, we also had to invest in public policy and electoral work to make sure that we had protection for workers ."
WHAT TO EXPECT
Jean Cohen speaks about the Responsible Construction Ordinance which pushes forward organizing and employer accountability for wage theft occurring in Santa Clara County. The Ordinance and its members recognize that the City of San Jose does not do enough (and needs to) to protect workers. They set the standard for basic employer requirements including not having outstanding wage theft or OSHA violations before working in the City of San Jose. Jean Cohen then discusses the evolution and utter-failure of the Slavery Towers construction site across from San Pedro Square Market in which non-paid, exploited, and trafficked workers were not only met with wage theft but also with human rights violations and threats of violence towards themselves and their family members. This nightmare not only negatively effected the workers, but also the development community, and the overall economy. This project became the very model for why we need more protections for workers in San Jose. As questioned by Jean Cohen- Does San Jose value its workers or its developers?
BIO
Jean Cohen is the Executive Officer of the South Bay AFL-CIO Labor Council, which represent over 100,000 union members in Santa Clara and San Benito Counties. Born and raised in downtown San Jose, Jean’s professional career spans three decades working for local government, the labor movement, and the nonprofit sector to build social and economic justice through public policy and organizing. Jean worked for many years on housing, land use, and transportation policy for then State Senator Jim Beall.
She served on staff at Sacred Heart Community Service as the Director of Development and Communications, developing tools for economic self-sufficiency for the working poor and unhoused of Santa Clara County. During her tenure at SEIU-UHW and as the Political Director of the Alameda Labor Council, Jean directed the organizing and legislative programs for over 120 affiliated labor unions in Alameda and Santa Clara Counties, engaging over 100,000 unionists through multiple election cycles. With a focus on affiliate and member mobilization, she has organized successful electoral field programs and contract campaigns utilizing direct action, strategic coalition building, and investments in leadership and policy development. From 2016 to 2020, Jean was the Political and Communications Director for UA Local Union 393. Jean is currently the vice chair of the Santa Clara County Democratic Party and is on the executive board for Team San Jose. In 2024, Jean was appointed to serve on the Santa Clara County Planning Commission. She is an American Leadership Forum senior fellow and a graduate of Saint Mary’s College with an M.A. in 21st Century Leadership.
