Andres Alva Cardenas

Andres was born in Delano, California, raised mostly in Bakersfield, California, and did a lot of growing up in Southern California. He gradually developed an interest in worker and labor rights being the grandson of former field laborers and the son of former public-school teachers. And he solidified his dedication to the labor movement with his work experience and education.  

Shortly after his undergraduate studies, he worked for a tutoring company in Southern California, instructing students and managing a location, among other things. Then, before attending law school, he worked for an organization in Houston, Texas, providing supplemental education to lower-income students. 

While attending law school, he developed a range of legal experience: working directly with clients who were unlawfully treated by their employer; working closely with attorneys to research and draft legal documents; and working for a government agency to review internal allegations. Moreover, this legal experience, meant working in various environments – i.e., offices in Chicago and Washington, D.C and in the private and public sector.       

He is humbled, honored, and privileged to work as Business Representative of Local 127. As Business Representative, he seeks to build upon the legacy of AFSCME and to strengthen the commitment of relentlessly advocating for union members’ rights to enforce employee and labor laws and to advocate for more equity in the workplace.

He has a B.A. in Political Science from the University of La Verne and a J.D., with a certificate in Labor & Employment Law, from Chicago-Kent College of Law.

Andres would like to thank his family, especially his wife, for their unyielding and unconditional love and support!