Anna Bakalis

Senior Communications Director (she/her)

Anna leads strategic messaging, storytelling, and campaign communications to help federal workers defend their rights, protect public services, and organize for impact in a time of historic challenge and opportunity. With over a decade of experience leading member-driven communications strategies, Anna began her career as a journalist before joining SEIU Local 1021 in 2011, where she led media strategy for contract fights and strike campaigns across Northern California.

In 2015, she became Communications Director at United Teachers Los Angeles, helping reshape the department to reflect the bold organizing of LA educators and driving the public messaging behind their landmark 2019 strike. In 2023, Anna joined the Popular Comms Institute. There, she worked with unions and social justice organizations nationwide to train worker-leaders in communications strategy and help shift public discourse in the face of rising authoritarianism.

Anna began volunteering with the Federal Unionists Network in early 2025 during the Trump-DOGE attacks on federal workers, and became Communications Director that May. She holds a Master’s in Strategic Communication from American University and a Bachelor’s in Journalism from San Jose State University. She comes from a proud union family of steelworkers, stagehands, and teachers.