The AFL-CIO Executive Council welcomed Veda Shook and Walter Wise as new members today.

Shook took office Jan. 1 as president of the Flight Attendants-CWA, succeeding Patricia Friend, who retired and also resigned from the Executive Council. An AFA-CWA member since 1991, Shook says she plans to keep right on flying. Before her election as president, she served as an AFA-CWA vice president since 2007.

Wise was appointed president of the Ironworkers in February. In more than 35 years as an ironworker, he has served his union as general organizer, president of the Mid-Atlantic States District Council, general vice president and general treasurer. He was appointed president in February after Joseph Hunt retired. Hunt also retired from the Executive Council.

The council approved a statement thanking Hunt for his service and especially “his wise counsel and commitment to and leadership of organizing.” It also cited how as the Ironworkers’ leader, he steered the union through a difficult period of political and economic turmoil with a steady hand and strong vision. Hunt continues to serve working people as chairman of the Union Labor Life Insurance Co.

The council praised Friend as “a leader in the struggle for the advancement of women and people of color to the entire union movement.” Under her leadership, the council said, AFA-CWA fought for, and won, whistleblower protections for aviation employees, increased penalties for passengers who interfere with crew member duties, a smoking ban on international flights, an extension of the Family and Medical Leave Act to cover all flight crew members, seniority protections for flight attendants in the event of a merger and an opened door for occupational safety and health protections for all flight attendants.