Sanchioni Butler

Sanchioni Butler – Advocate for Workers’ Rights and Social Justice

Location: Raymond, Mississippi

Biography:
Sanchioni Butler is a passionate labor organizer and social justice advocate whose career spans over three decades. Beginning her journey in 1988 at the Ford Motor Company’s Dallas Parts Distribution facility, Sanchioni quickly emerged as a driving force within the United Auto Workers (UAW), dedicating herself to fostering workplace democracy, promoting equity, and
empowering workers.

Throughout her career, Sanchioni has embraced opportunities to create meaningful change. She has served on UAW/Ford Standing Committees and facilitated training programs aimed at building respect, diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Her work exemplifies a lifelong commitment to advancing workers’ rights and creating a more just and equitable society.

Advancing Justice and Building Relationships
Sanchioni’s unwavering passion for worker advocacy has taken her on an extraordinary journey as a lead organizer and later as an International Representative for the UAW. Across the Southern United States—including Alabama, Tennessee, North Carolina, Mississippi and beyond—she dedicated herself to empowering workers and transforming workplaces into environments of dignity and respect.

Her advocacy extended far beyond U.S. borders, collaborating with trade unionists in South Africa, Brazil, France and Japan. These global partnerships allowed her to share strategies, exchange stories and unite in the common goal of advancing human and worker rights. For Sanchioni, this work is more than a profession—it is a lifelong mission to create lasting change for workers everywhere.

In Mississippi, Sanchioni undertook the significant challenge of organizing workers at the Nissan plant in Canton, a fight for workplace democracy and human rights. Her leadership inspired others to stand together in pursuit of dignity and respect.

Continued Advocacy and Community Engagement
After retiring from Ford Motor Company and the UAW in 2018, Sanchioni remained deeply committed to social and economic justice. She served as Political Campaign Coordinator for the Mississippi AFL-CIO, advancing legislation to support working people.

She recently served as the ARP Coordinator for the Mississippi Association of Educators, overseeing initiatives funded by the American Rescue Plan to ensure that school districts, educators, and their communities benefited from critical resources.

Now, in her new role with Jobs to Move America, Sanchioni is entering an exciting chapter in her journey. This national strategic policy center aligns perfectly with her passion for creating positive change—reinvesting taxpayer dollars to build good jobs and foster a fair, prosperous society.

What draws Sanchioni to this work is its commitment to reclaiming government as a force for good. Through coalition building and innovative policy development, she works to expand access to clean, sustainable jobs for all working people while centering environmental sustainability, racial equity and gender justice.

For Sanchioni, this isn’t just a job—it’s a chance to transform the economy while championing values that uplift communities and create opportunities for everyone to thrive.

Her leadership also extends to community organizations. She serves as an Executive Board Member for the Mississippi Immigrants’ Rights Alliance, actively serves as Assistant Secretary and Co-Chair of the Labor Council of the Jackson NAACP, and is a member of the A. Phillip Randolph Institute.

Championing Education and Empowerment
As a skilled facilitator, Sanchioni has developed and led workshops to empower workers with the knowledge and tools they need to navigate and overcome workplace challenges. She firmly believes in education as a catalyst for change and has shared her expertise globally, connecting workers from different continents in a shared pursuit of justice.

Philosophy:
“The common thread through all of these experiences is the innate belief that our institution will only flourish if members [and future members] are given the tools to advocate for themselves.”