Harry Lombardo, 64, was elected international president of the Transport Workers (TWU) at the union's convention in Las Vegas this week. 

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports Lombardo replaced James C. Little, who headed the union since 2006.

Lombardo worked his way up through TWU, starting off cleaning the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) buses in Philadelphia. 

Forging stronger community ties, opposing outsourcing and increasing lobbying efforts are priorities for Lombardo. 

"The labor movement was successful in the '50s and '60s because (unions) were tied to the communities their workers lived in," Lombardo told Associated Press reporter David Koenig. "They've gotten away from that. We're going to be very active in the community."