UFCW 324 Elects Shamika Romanak as Secretary-Treasurer
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 21, 2025
Contact: Jenna Thompson, 949.246.1620, jthompson@ufcw324.org
UFCW 324 ELECTS SHAMIKA ROMANAK AS SECRETARY-TREASURER
Buena Park, CA – Today, the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 324 announced that the Executive Board of the union elected Shamika Romanak as Secretary-Treasurer. Shamika’s election is a milestone for the union as she is the first Black woman to be elected Secretary-Treasurer in the union’s history. Shamika’s tenacity, passion, and drive will empower UFCW 324 members to win historic contracts and improve their lives in the years ahead.
“It is an incredible honor to be elected to serve and lead our members as Secretary-Treasurer,” said Shamika Romanak MHA, CLS, MLS(ASCP)cm, Secretary-Treasurer, UFCW 324. “As I begin this new chapter, I am filled with both gratitude and excitement at the opportunity to fuel my passion. I want to make a meaningful difference by improving the workplaces where our union members serve every day by ensuring they feel valued, supported, and empowered, with the hope that the changes we make together ripple out to uplift their families and communities. I’m ready and honored to walk this path with our members and our staff and I can’t wait to see what we’ll accomplish together.”
Shamika began her career as a Clinical Laboratory Scientist at Kaiser Permanente, where she quickly became known for her leadership, integrity, and commitment to empowering her colleagues. During her time at Kaiser, Shamika served as both a union steward and a labor sponsor within the Labor Management Partnership (LMP), strengthening collaboration between labor and management to improve workplace conditions and patient care.
In 2022, Shamika joined UFCW Local 324 as a Kaiser Labor Liaison, where she provided critical support to members in the pharmacy and laboratory units. In this role, she served as a trusted bridge between workers, union leadership, and management, continuing to advocate for fairness, equity, and respect in every aspect of the workplace.
Shamika has played a pivotal role in healthcare negotiations at both the local and national levels. She was instrumental in developing the initial Planned Parenthood contract for UFCW 324 and has led local bargaining for Clinical Laboratory Scientists across all Southern California UFCW locals. Her leadership extends nationally as well. Shamika has served as a lead negotiator representing more than 62,000 healthcare professionals from 23 Alliance unions across the country. Through her work with the Alliance of Health Care Unions, she continues to champion fair pay, safe staffing, and the high-quality patient care that union members help deliver every day.
Beyond her work in negotiations, Shamika is deeply committed to advancing equity and inclusion within the labor movement. She serves as a Vice President on the Executive Board and on the Board of Trustees for the UFCW Minority Coalition, where she advocates for health equity, racial justice, and leadership development for underrepresented communities.
A lifelong learner and advocate for leadership development, Shamika holds degrees in Clinical Laboratory Science and Biology, as well as a Master’s in Healthcare Management. She is a proud alumna of the Harvard Business School Executive Leadership Program, where she gained advanced insight into transformational leadership, negotiation, and strategic collaboration, which are skills she continues to apply in advocating for equity and progress within the labor movement. She views her education as a foundation for service—helping her better support workers, build bridges between labor and management, and find practical solutions that improve the lives of healthcare professionals and the quality of care they provide.
With a deep-rooted commitment to workers’ rights and an enduring passion for the labor movement, Shamika strives to inspire others to lead with courage, integrity, and compassion. Her extensive experience at the bargaining table has shaped her vision for creating meaningful, lasting change to ensure that the voices of workers are not only heard but truly contribute to positive influences for the future. She believes that through unity, transparency, and purpose-driven leadership, labor can continue to be a force for progress, equity, and dignity for all.
In addition to electing Shamika, the UFCW 324 Executive Board also elected Matt Bell as President.
“Shamika’s passion and empathy for the members is evident throughout her work at UFCW 324 over the past four years,” said Matt Bell, President, UFCW 324. “I know that as we move our local forward together, Shamika’s ability to empower our Kaiser, Planned Parenthood, and other healthcare members and negotiate leading contracts will not only better the lives of our 21,000 members in Orange and Los Angeles Counties, but it will be an example that women leaders throughout our nation look up to for decades to come. I am truly excited to work with Shamika to ensure UFCW 324 members thrive.”
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