John M. Grant serves as President Pro Tempore on the Los Angeles Board of Public Works, bringing decades of experience in labor leadership, workplace safety advocacy, and community development to his role serving the city.
A native Angeleno, Grant's commitment to worker rights and public service began during his nine years working at the Farmer John slaughterhouse, where he served as shop steward and vice president. During this time, his Cal-OSHA complaints led to the establishment of California's first plant-wide ergonomic standard for packinghouses, setting a precedent for workplace safety. This hands-on experience informed his subsequent 37-year career with United Food & Commercial Workers Local 770, where he advanced from union representative to in-house counsel, ultimately serving as president. During his tenure, Grant pioneered numerous initiatives, including establishing the first union membership bargaining committees and health and safety committees in retail markets. He has negotiated over 100 contracts and protected workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Grant's influence extends beyond traditional labor advocacy. As a co-founder of the Los Angeles Committee on Safety and Health (LACOSH) and through his leadership roles with the UCLA Labor Center and Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy, he has shaped policy at both local and state levels. His appointment to the Governor's Task Force on Business and Job Recovery during the COVID-19 pandemic and his leadership in Housing LA's successful campaign for an affordable housing trust fund demonstrate his commitment to addressing crucial urban challenges. His co-authored work on trade union resistance to California's Proposition 187, published in German ('Gewerkschaftlicher Widerstand gegen Proposition 187'), documents an important chapter in California's labor and immigration history.
A Phi Beta Kappa UC Santa Barbara Urban Studies graduate and Loyola Law School JD, Grant combines academic excellence with practical expertise. When not serving the city, he enjoys time with his family, including three children and two grandchildren, cheers on LAFC, attends LA Opera, and has become a beloved fixture at Berkeley's annual Burns Night, where he has performed the traditional "Address to a Haggis" for over a decade, proudly wearing either his MacPherson or Grant plaid kilt.