María Elena Durazo, Assembly Speaker Karen Bass, and President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg in the capitol rotunda.

On February 25, 2009, a budget deal for the 2009–2010 year was announced, which did not include funding for the University of California Miguel Contreras Labor Program or the UCLA Labor Center. Members of the state legislature pledged that they will still attempt to restore funding before the close of the fiscal year.

On February 24, UCLA student organizations convened a Teach-In on campus to save the Labor Center. The event was attended by more than fifty students, all of whom presented compelling testimony on how the Labor Center has had a positive impact on their college educations. Many spoke of how they benefited from taking classes, participating in the labor studies minor, and working on internships sponsored by the Labor Center,

On March 13, the UCLA Labor Center worked with a broad-based coalition of labor and community organizations to sponsor a Teach-In on the California State Budget at the United Teachers Los Angeles office. Speakers included Assembly Speaker Karen Bass and Kent Wong, who presented a slideshow on the impact of the two-thirds majority required to pass the California budget.

On March 31, Cesar Chavez Day, the Labor Center arranged for a display on the life of Miguel Contreras to be unveiled at the California State Capitol rotunda in Sacramento. María Elena Durazo spoke at the press conference, along with Assembly Speaker Karen Bass and President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg. A reception honoring the legacy of Miguel Contreras followed the unveiling.

On May 28, 2009, President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg will be honored at the  Labor Center banquet, along with California State Controller John Chiang and Change to Win Chair Anna Burger.

In Summer 2009, the Labor Center will publish the first book about Miguel Contreras, entitled Miguel Contreras: Legacy of a Labor Leader. The center is also working closely with the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor to launch a foundation in Contreras’s honor.