Angi (Evangeline) Burgess, born 1941, attended high school in Greeley, Colorado before moving permanently to San Mateo, California. Her involvement in labor unions began in 1969 with her employment as a communications technician at Pacific Bell. Soon after, Angi joined the Communications Workers of America (CWA) District 9, and locals 9430 (San Francisco, California) and 9410 (Foster City, California) where, between 1973 and 2008 she became heavily involved in union work, serving as shop steward and executive board member, and later completing two terms as vice-president. Angi was elected chair of the Community Service Committee for CWA local 9430, and represented the CWA at various local and national conventions.

Although she studied commercial art in Colorado, Angi focused her continuing education on labor and union studies, attending classes at San Mateo College and San Francisco State College (later known as San Francisco State University) among others, and undertaking courses in stewards training and arbitration through the CWA. Her experience and interest in politics and union organizations led to numerous activities outside of the CWA, including her role as president of the Coalition of Union Labor Women (CLUW), San Mateo County, board member for the Committee in Support of Trade Union Rights (CISTUR), and work on state and federal political campaigns and issues such as California’s minimum wage. Angi remained at Pacific Bell until her retirement in 1994, although she returned as a temporary employee for a short time in 1996. During her time there she joined the picket line in both the 1983 and 1989 strikes against Pacific Bell.

In 1987 Angi’s work was recognized when she received a Unity Award from the San Mateo Labor Council AFL-CIO and a recommendation for the COPE Award by California Assemblywoman Jackie Speiers.