Convention Makes Major Changes to Leadership Structure, Extra Support for Grassroots

(Chicago, July 27) - - John J. Sweeney was re-elected President of the AFL-CIO --  along with Richard Trumka as Secretary-Treasurer and Linda Chavez-Thompson as Executive Vice President -- at the AFL-CIO convention here today by more than 800 rank-and-file delegates from across the nation. 

“The changes we are making this week are an ambitious blueprint,” said Sweeney.  “What we do in the weeks and months ahead to move forward with focus and fight will determine whether we build the stronger movement we must have, and that working families must have.” 

Sweeney was elected today by acclamation after there were no opposing candidates.

“Ten years ago, I never thought that I would be standing here today.  My union opposed John Sweeney for president in 1995…But when the election was over and we had lost, I and other in the AFT committed ourselves to supporting the president of the AFL-CIO…we never dreamed of leaving,” said AFT President Ed McElroy in nominating Sweeney, winning a standing ovation..  “We have gained great respect and admiration for what this man has accomplished and for his tireless energy and dedication to our cause.”

The Convention radically changed the leadership structure of the AFL-CIO today, reducing the size of the top leadership body, the Executive Council, to 46 seats from 54, reserving 15 of those seats to ensure a diverse leadership.  The delegates also voted to empower an Executive Committee which will allow 19 leaders, including those of the 10 biggest unions of the Federation, to share power with the officers.  The new Executive Council is the most diverse in the history of the AFL-CIO, and brings energetic new leadership to the world’s largest labor federation.  New members of the Executive Council include Larry Cohen, CWA; Warren George, ATU; Greg Junemann, IFPTE; Tom Short, IATSE; Laura Rico, AFT; Robbie Sparks, IBEW; Nancy Wohlforth, OPEIU and Andrea Brooks, AFGEThe delegates passed a special Constitutional Amendment which will give emergency, supplemental resources to state federations and central labor councils who will be hard hit by the decision of the SEIU and Teamsters to leave the AFL-CIO.  The four-cent dues increase will also provide resources to assist unions in defeating raids by the disaffiliating unions. 

The Convention urged unions to merge, when appropriate, to increase union bargaining strength for workers, empowering the Executive Committee to set up a Blue Ribbon Panel to recommend mergers.  The Panel will report no later than February 2006.

The Convention also creating Industry Coordinating Committees, which will bring together all unions that represent workers in an industry to establish contract standards and build a strategic organizing plan for that industry.  All affiliated unions with membership in the industry will participate and be bound by the standards and organizing plans. 

Full AFL-CIO Executive Council

1. Gerald W. McEntee, AFSCME

2. Gene Upshaw, Pro. Athletes

3. Michael Sacco, SIU

4. Frank Hurt, BCTGM

5. Patricia Friend, AFA-CWA

6. Michael Goodwin, OPEIU

7. William Lucy, AFSCME

8. Leon Lynch, USWA

9. Robert A. Scardelletti, TCU

10. John M. Bowers, ILA

11. R. Thomas Buffenbarger, IAM

12. Elizabeth Bunn, UAW

13. Michael J. Sullivan, SMWIA

14. Capt. Duane Woerth, ALPA

15. Harold Schaitberger, IAFF

16. Edwin D. Hill, IBEW

17. Joseph J. Hunt, Iron Workers

18. Cheryl Johnson, UAN

19. Clyde Rivers, CSEA

20. Cecil Roberts, UMWA

21. Edward C. Sullivan, BCTD

22. William Burrus, APWU

23. Leo W. Gerard, USWA

24. Melissa Gilbert, SAG

25. Edward J. McElroy, AFT

26. Ron Gettelfinger, UAW

27. James Williams, IUPAT

28. John J. Flynn, BAC

29. Baxter M. Atkinson, AFSA

30. John Gage, AFGE

31. William H. Young, NALC

32. Nat LaCour, AFT

33. Vincent Giblin, IUOE

34. William Hite, UA

35. Michael T. O’Brien, TWU

36. Larry Cohen, CWA

37. Warren George, ATU

38. Greg Junemann, IFPTE

39. Thomas C. Short, IATSE

40. Laura Rico, AFT

41. Robbie Sparks, IBEW

42. Nancy Wohlforth, OPEIU

43. Andrea Brooks, AFGE

Contact: Lane Windham (312) 595-5836, (202) 637-5018