Episode Summary: It Could Happen Here — "SEIU 1000 Union Rep of the IE Reports Live from the Frontline"

Podcast: It Could Happen Here (Cool Zone Media / iHeartPodcasts)
Date: September 29, 2025
Host/Main Interviewer: [Unspecified Host, possibly Propaganda]
Guest: Tangent Wiggy, AKA Tristan Ackerman, State Employee & SEIU 1000 Union Rep (IE/Inland Empire)

Brief Overview of the Episode

This episode features an in-depth conversation with Tristan Ackerman (known artistically as Tangent Wiggy), a state employee, union representative, and community organizer in California's Inland Empire. He provides a firsthand account of labor organizing with SEIU 1000, navigating the unique challenges of public service, current crisis points like ICE raids in San Bernardino, and strategies for union solidarity across diverse—and often divided—communities. The discussion weaves together local specificity, worker rights, broader political realities, and the lived-in context of San Bernardino, California.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction: Colliding Worlds and Union Roles

[02:19–03:59]

• Host reflects on the unexpected intersections between activism and hip hop communities, introducing Tristan (Tangent Wiggy).
• Tristan introduces his roles: Inland Empire state worker, community artist, SEIU 1000 representative, and member of the executive bargaining team.

“I represent state employees from Ontario region to San Bernardino region and in between…on the bargaining team so I go up to Sacramento and help prepare for bargaining against Governor Newsom and his team as well.” – Tristan [03:24]

2. What is SEIU 1000?

[04:38–05:31]

• SEIU 1000 represents over 100,000 California state workers.
• Tristan serves on the Executive Board for DLC 704 (Ontario/San Bernardino region).

3. The Unique Realities of Inland Empire State Workers

[06:50–08:41]

• Challenges unique to the Inland Empire include:
  • The presence of Patton State Hospital (a high-stress, 24-hour facility for the criminally insane).
  • Heavy service to undocumented communities—Tristan processes disability claims for many undocumented workers.

“California doesn’t regulate about documented status the way the federal government does…we don’t care that you’re undocumented. We’re going to pay you because you’re a worker and you need our services.” – Tristan [08:28]

4. Union Advocacy: Wins, Struggles & the Value of Organizing

[09:18–11:40]

• Example of "very reasonable" union asks (like telework) and management resistance.
• Pandemic pivot: After years of lobbying, mass telework only implemented due to COVID crisis.

“It took the quarantine crisis of 2020–2021 to actually get the state to agree to mass implement telework…telework has been something we thought was very reasonable for a long time…” – Tristan [10:01]

• Host shares a personal anecdote about how unions made possible more humane working conditions.
• Union activism also led host's wife to help her nonprofit staff unionize.

5. Dealing with State Leadership

[14:49–16:32]

• Stories of negotiating with Governor Newsom’s team, highlighting the mixed feelings often present with political allies.
• Newsom praised for some progressive actions, criticized for slow-walking state worker negotiations.

“There have been times where … he’s doing something dope. And then other times when he’s not…” – Host [15:14]

6. Case Study: Recent Contract Battle

[16:40–21:14]

• Negotiations in 2022–23 were contentious; offers as low as 1–2% raises for three years.
• Host critiques Newsom for public grandstanding with high-profile union battles while neglecting state workers:

“You’re not negotiating with us, but you’re on TV talking about… ‘I want to help Harrison Ford, I want to help the actors get their contract.’” – Tristan [18:01]

• Union could not strike, but organized a work picket in 102-degree heat, leading to an eventual 8% raise.

“When we fight, we win. When we unite, we win.” – Tristan [20:39]
“The fact that I got my co-workers to march in 102 degree weather with me…a few weeks later they said, you’re going to get an 8% raise.” – Tristan [21:04]

7. Bridging Progressive and Conservative Tensions in Organizing

[22:07–25:43]

• The union is progressive but many rank-and-file Inland Empire members are not, leading to friction.
• Tension between single-issue ("just give me a raise") and intersectional approaches ("immigrant and LGBTQ+ issues also affect labor").

“As a union organizer, I really have to be able to talk with my more conservative members because there are people in the union that are not super progressive warriors like me. They're just workers who want to be represented.” – Tristan [22:56]

• The importance of solidarity across issues and demographics:

“…If the immigrants are being harmed and the laborers are being harmed, if the artists are being harmed, then the nurs[es] are harmed. If the teachers be[ing harmed]…” – Tristan [24:25]

• Recalls union losses—some members quit over broader political stances (ex: Kirk assassination, immigration).

8. Local Context: San Bernardino’s Struggles and Beauty

[29:03–32:41]

• Tristan paints a vivid, complex picture of San Bernardino: deep poverty, high diversity, post-industrial decline, and resilient community arts scenes.
• Describes "zombieland" public perception but highlights local arts and camaraderie.

“...it feels like a zombieland, like just this dark…I remember the Carousel Mall…when people talk about the forgotten man, the forgotten America, I’m like, San Bernardino? …we didn’t gave up on that city…” – Host [29:57]

9. ICE Raids on the Frontline

[33:03–34:54]

• First-hand report of ICE activity in downtown San Bernardino, targeting immigrants near the disability office and Mexican consulate:

“ICE has been coming and snatching people up in front of my office…One of the days it happened, I was in the office, I called my congressman…I’ve never been so happy to see the regular cops.” – Tristan [34:16]

• ICE tactics are quick and covert, making documentation and resistance difficult.
• Additional threat: vigilantes impersonating ICE.

“They pushed a wife out of the way…took the husband, tossed him in the van and drove off. It all happened so fast that no one was able to film it…that’s the trick.” – Tristan [34:36]

10. Ongoing Union Goals & Ways to Support

[36:05–38:21]

• Recent bargaining exchanged a delayed raise for two more years of telework—a sign of how tough state finances are.
• Support labor: Get involved if your workplace has a union, join phone banks (ex: for Prop 50, aiming to shift redistricting power away from the GOP).

“If you are in a workplace that has a union, get involved…Or next time they invite you to a phone bank…go, go support.” – Tristan [36:06]

• SEIU 1000 is still active in local anti-ICE protests and broader community resistance.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On organizing wins:

  “When we fight, we win. When we unite, we win.” – Tristan [20:39]

• On solidarity across issues:

  “…David Huerta fighting for immigrant rights is him fighting for you as a worker. Because if they came for them, they could come for you.” – Tristan [24:40]

• On San Bernardino:

  “There’s beauty here, there’s dope stuff…Let me come [with you]—like, we can definitely shine lights…” – Host [31:57]

• On ICE presence:

  “ICE has been coming and snatching people up in front of my office…it all happened so fast that no one was able to film it.” – Tristan [34:16, 34:49]

Timeline of Important Segments

• [02:19] – Host introduces Tangent Wiggy/Tristan and his union/community roles.
• [04:38] – Overview of SEIU 1000 and the Inland Empire’s chapter.
• [07:13] – Inland Empire’s unique challenges for state workers.
• [09:18] – Union asks and the fight for telework.
• [16:40] – Breakdown of recent contentious bargaining with Newsom’s team.
• [20:39] – How a successful local job action secured a significant raise.
• [22:07] – Discussion of internal union divides between progressive and conservative priorities.
• [29:03] – Describing the real San Bernardino.
• [33:03] – First-person account of ICE actions in downtown, union response.
• [36:05] – Current union initiatives and community engagement.

Closing & Call to Action

• Tristan encourages listeners to get involved with their workplace unions, support local activism, and join efforts like phone banking for Proposition 50.
• Shout-outs to Inland Empire artists and projects, such as the Inland Empire Music Awards.
• Ways to reach or follow Tristan (TANJINT) are shared at [37:48].

This comprehensive summary provides a focused, timestamped guide to the episode’s key themes and moments for listeners and non-listeners alike.