LA Federation of Labor, the Region’s Largest Labor Federation, Endorses Councilwoman Elen Asatryan for Re-Election

GLENDALE, CA—March 26, 2026

The Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, representing 300+ unions with more than 800,000 members across Los Angeles County, has officially endorsed Councilwoman Elen Asatryan for re-election to the Glendale City Council. In addition to the LA Federation of Labor, Councilwoman Asatryan has also earned the support of the Los Angeles/Orange Counties Building and Construction Trades Council, Unite Here Local 11, the Glendale Teachers Association and others, further demonstrating her broad and growing backing from organized labor. 

The LA Federation of Labor is the largest labor federation in the region and represents workers across a wide range of industries, including healthcare, education, construction, hospitality, and the entertainment industry. 

“The Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, representing more than 800,000 workers across our region, is proud to support Elen Asatryan for re-election to the Glendale City Council. Elen understands that strong communities are built on good union jobs, fair wages, and respect for working people. She has consistently stood with labor and fought to ensure Glendale’s growth benefits working families. We are proud to endorse her and look forward to continuing to work together on behalf of the workers who power Glendale and our wider region,” Los Angeles County Federation of Labor stated.

Since being elected to the Glendale City Council, Asatryan has championed policies that support economic opportunity, responsible development, and inclusive growth for Glendale residents. Her leadership has focused on ensuring that the city continues to invest in infrastructure, local businesses, and workforce opportunities while maintaining a high quality of life for residents.

Councilwoman Asatryan has a long list of accomplishments within social justice, labor advocacy, equity and representation, public policy, and community organizing—both on the City Council as well as during her two-decade career in advocacy and policymaking. 

During her time on City Council, she has:

• Initiated 100 percent coverage of health insurance increases for city employees for two consecutive years

• Successfully championed family leave and initiated the consideration of menstrual leave policies as city standards, as well as childcare on campus

• Advanced discussions on raising minimum wage standards for city employees

• Supported and initiated labor peace agreements on the Glendale City Council and at the Burbank Airport Authority

• Brought workers’ rights issues to the dais instead of limiting them to MOU negotiations

  
  

Councilwoman Elen Asatryan has been a consistent partner to organized labor and a strong advocate for working families. Since 2006, she has worked closely with unions including SEIU Local 721, United Teachers Los Angeles, UNITE HERE, the Glendale Teachers Association, the Glendale Fire Fighters Association, the Glendale Community College Guild, and the California School Employees Association on voter education, voter registration, and get-out-the-vote efforts that helped drive record-breaking turnout in key elections and ballot measures.

“Councilwoman Elen Asatryan has been a consistent advocate for working families in Glendale. She understands the challenges facing hospitality workers—from the rising cost of housing to the need for fair wages and safe workplaces—and has shown a commitment to policies that support economic justice. Representing more than 32,000 hospitality workers, UNITE HERE Local 11 is proud to support her re-election to the Glendale City Council,” UNITE HERE Local 11 Co-President Ada Briceño said. 

During her time as Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region, Asatryan expanded the organization’s advocacy to include formal partnerships with labor unions across 19 states west of the Mississippi, helping build broader coalitions to support aligned candidates and workers’ rights initiatives, which impacted the Armenian community. She has also supported major labor-backed campaigns, including organizing and running operations alongside SEIU for a $15 minimum wage and working with United Teachers Los Angeles to advance community schools.

As a member of the Glendale City Council, Asatryan has maintained a proactive and collaborative relationship with the city’s employee associations and has prioritized elevating workers’ concerns in public policymaking.

“The LA/OC Building & Construction Trades Council is delighted to be endorsing Elen Asatryan for Glendale City Council. Elen has partnered and worked alongside labor unions to advance pro-labor initiatives and support workers rights for almost two decades. Her experience making workers’ rights issues a public policy priority for the city of Glendale confirmed for us that she was the right person for the job,” Ernesto Medrano, Executive Secretary of the Los Angeles/Orange Counties Building & Construction Trades Council, said.

A longtime champion for working people, Asatryan has spent nearly two decades partnering with unions to advance pro-labor policies, support worker organizing, and drive impactful voter engagement efforts. She has been a consistent and unapologetic advocate for workers’ rights—bringing these issues directly to the dais, fighting for strong contracts and benefits for city employees, and championing policies that protect good-paying jobs, expand workforce housing, and ensure working families can thrive in Glendale.

“Elen has been a strong advocate for all members of our community, consistently standing up for labor, inclusivity, women’s rights, and marginalized communities,” Taline Arsenian, President of the Glendale Teachers Association, said. “Even in the face of baseless attacks and misogyny, she has led with integrity, courage, and an unwavering commitment to equity and inclusion. We are honored to stand with her and support her continued leadership for our city.”

These endorsements underscore Asatryan’s growing support from labor leaders and community organizations across the region as she seeks re-election to continue her work on behalf of Glendale residents.

“I am honored to have the endorsements of key regional labor advocates, including the LA Federation of Labor and the hundreds of thousands of working people that the organization fights for daily,” Councilwoman Asatryan said. “Working people are the backbone of our city, and I remain committed to fighting for policies that support quality jobs, fair wages, and strong economic opportunities for all Glendale residents.”

This announcement comes after Councilwoman Elen Asatryan Earns Endorsements from Key Environmental Organizations, Sierra Club, LALCV, and Glendale Environmental Coalition. 

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