Bill Camp, longtime Sacramento labor leader, champion for social justice and workers, dies at 80

Bill Camp, the longtime head of the Sacramento Central Labor Council who left a lasting legacy as a champion of social justice and workers’ rights, has died.

Camp died Sept. 23. He was 80.

“We have lost a true leader; the best of us,” the Sacramento Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO, the organization Camp led from 1999-2014 as its executive secretary, said in a remembrance marking his passing .

“Bill’s tireless advocacy for working families was rooted in his profound compassion and his moral conviction that no one should be left behind,” the labor council said in the statement.

Born Feb. 12, 1944, on a farm in South Carolina, Camp lived his life in the trenches of labor and civil rights, as a foot soldier fighting for racial justice in the Deep South during the Civil Rights Movement; organizing California farm workers in the fields in their quest for humane working conditions and pressing for workers’ rights at the state Capitol.

The Sacramento Central Labor Council remembered Camp as a “warrior for social justice,” the council under his watch, a “powerful force not just for union workers but for all who faced oppression and hardship.”

“He marched in the streets, organized in union halls, and lobbied in the halls of power with the same passion and energy,” the labor council remembered in its statement. “His presence was a fixture at picket lines, community forums, and at every place where the fight for justice was being waged.”

Labor leaders and lawmakers reflected on Camp’s legacy and the lasting impact of his advocacy for California’s working families.

“From his early days in the Civil Rights Movement to his transformative leadership as Executive Secretary of the Sacramento Central Labor Council, Bill’s unwavering commitment to dignity, fair wages, and justice for all working people has left an indelible mark on the labor movement,” said Kim Evon, executive vice president of SEIU Local 2015 , in a statement marking Camp’s passing.

“Bill’s legacy is one of unity, mentorship, and relentless advocacy for a better world, one where every worker has a voice,” Evon continued. “As we reflect on his extraordinary life, we honor his enduring contributions and vow to continue his fight for justice.”

The United Farm Workers remembered Camp as someone “who understood the fight for workers’ rights was closely tied to broader battles for racial and economic equality and civil rights.”

Rep. Doris Matsui, D-Sacramento, remembered Camp as a dear friend dedicated to lifting workers’ voices, calling the labor leader “a powerful force for good.”

“Everywhere he went, Bill sought to improve the lives of his neighbors, stand up for justice, and uplift the underserved and overlooked,” Matsui said in a statement.

“Through his tireless efforts, he made sure that working families received the resources and dignity they deserve,” the Congresswoman continued.

“Although most will remember him for his many great accomplishments, I will remember him best for his years of friendship and his kind, compassionate heart. He will be greatly missed.”

Camp is survived by his wife, Catherine Camp; two sons; a daughter-in-law; a son-in-law; and five grandchildren.

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