Zach is a lab technician at Darigold where he has worked for over six years. Four of them have also been dedicated to his role as a Shop Steward. Since he was a teen, Zach was fascinated by nature and biology. During high school, Zach spent four summers working on a research farm in Waimanalo for the University of Hawaii in their genetics program. That experience solidified his intentions, and he moved to Seattle to attend WSU and major in Agricultural Biology.

From the scientific method to a strong unionist, could you tell us about your journey??

Growing up in Hawaii and especially going to public schools, you see a lot of people from diverse backgrounds and varying education levels. It gave me such a deep appreciation of people's circumstances. I have always supported unions, but when I started working at Darigold, I didn't realize it was a Union shop. Learning about the benefits I was getting made me very interested in participating more in the Union.

What motivates you to go the extra step in your Union?

Throughout college, I've done a lot of canvassing for political candidates that I support. I think a lot about where I want to see Seattle and my community. Knowing what people struggle with from day to day, I believe that workers need to have a just and sustainable lifestyle. That's something that gives me motivation and a sense of purpose – an understanding of what I need to fight for. It is crucial for us to have strong labor relations and that comes through enforcing strong and beneficial contracts.