Liz Shuler Named President of AFL-CIO


The AFL-CIO has elected Liz Shuler, who has been acting president since Richard Trumka’s death this month, to lead the federation until next June elections.

Ms. Shuler had served as the treasurer’s secretary, second-level officer of the AFL-CIO, since 2009.

NS Decision to elect Ms. Shuler president He arrived at the AFL-CIO executive council meeting on Friday and was forced to call a meeting by Ms. Shuler, a few weeks after Mr. Trumka’s death, according to the federation constitution. Ms. Shuler is the group’s first female president.

“I firmly believe that the labor movement is the greatest organized force for progress,” Ms. Shuler said in a statement. “Here is a moment for us to be the center of gravity for incubating and leading societal transformations in our unions and our economy to use our power to bring women and people of color from the margins to the centre. new ideas that will unleash unprecedented union growth.”

In an interview given the day after Mr Trumka’s death, Ms. Shuler said she had been preparing for years to lead the AFL-CIO and hopes to run for a full four-year term next June.

“You don’t just come one day asking for support – the foundations have been laid for years,” he said. “I have studied under the best and am ready to lead.”

Union presidents and senior AFL-CIO staff spent years While discussing the proper role of federation, some argue that it should mostly coordinate among its affiliates and help advance their shared priorities in Washington and state legislatures. Others argue that the federation should play a leading role in organizing new workers and forging alliances with progressive groups such as those who support civil rights.

Known for his close relationship with President Biden, Mr. Trumka was primarily associated with first sight in his later years as head of the AFL-CIO. Ms. Shuler also identifies with this approach, but stressed in the interview that adding union members is a priority and has supported organizing initiatives in the past.

Some officials who place greater emphasis on organization want Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants, to lead the federation.

But at a time when the stakes for organized labor were high, few tried to challenge Ms. Shuler. The AFL-CIO is pushing for legislation that would make it easier for workers to form unions, along with the massive employment and infrastructure measure proposed by Mr Biden.

“There is a need to unify the labor movement to get where we need to go,” Ms. Shuler said in the interview. “My job will be to promote unity and solidarity around a common agenda.”

The executive council also voted to name it on Friday Fred Redmond, a senior official of the United Steelworkers, to fill the secretary-treasury gap created by Ms. Shuler’s rise.

The first Black official to serve in one of the AFL-CIO’s first two positions, Mr. Redmond has been vice president of the steelworkers union since 2005 and coordinates bargains for members in the healthcare, pharmaceutical and shipbuilding industries. So are those in the public sector. He also oversees the union’s civil rights division and has worked with other progressive groups to campaign for voting rights.

Tom Conway, head of steelworkers, is close to Mr. Biden and has been outspoken about supporting their business and infrastructure plans.



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