LCLAA Commends the Election of Liz Shuler and Fred Redmond as AFL-CIO President and Secretary-Treasurer

Washington, DC - The Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA) commends the election of Liz Shuler and Fred Redmond as President and Secretary-Treasurer respectively of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO). The AFL-CIO is the largest federation of unions in the United States, representing 57 national and international unions, 7 constituency groups, including LCLAA, and 12.5 million workers. 

The election today marks a historic moment for the labor movement, making Liz Shuler the first woman elected by delegates to be president of the AFL-CIO and Fred Redmond the first African American elected by delegates to the Secretary-Treasurer position. 

Both Liz Shuler and Fred Redmond have exceptional credentials and substantial experience in the labor movement. 

Liz Shuler is a longtime trade unionist and most recently has been serving as the President of the AFL-CIO. After the unexpected passing of previous president Richard Trumka, Liz Shuler was elected by the AFL-CIO Executive Council to fill the remainder of the presidency term, making her the first woman to hold the position of AFL-CIO president. 

Prior to the presidency, Liz Shuler served as the Secretary-Treasurer of the AFL-CIO. Elected in 2009, she became the youngest woman to ever be on the AFL-CIO’s executive council and the first woman and youngest person to hold the Secretary-Treasurer position. She previously held the position of Secretary-Treasurer of the IBEW and successfully mobilized her union members to help defeat California Prop. 226 which threatened to silence union members in the political process. 

Shuler is committed to combating misconceptions about labor and to utilizing the diversity of the labor movement for innovative approaches to social justice. She firmly believes that the labor movement is the single most powerful vehicle for progress. 

Fred Redmond most recently has been serving as Secretary-Treasurer and Executive Vice President of the AFL-CIO since the passing of the previous president and the promotion of Shuler to the presidency. After being elected by the AFL-CIO executive council to serve in this role, Redmond became the first African American to hold the number two position. 

Redmond served the United Steelworkers (USW) for multiple decades in various positions, most recently as the union’s International Vice President for Human Affairs. In this role Redmond oversaw the civil and human rights department and the union’s shipbuilding, health care and public sector bargaining. 

In the words of National President Yanira Merino, “the election of Liz Shuler and Fred Redmond will only propel the labor movement forward - forward into the future, forward with progress. This election only amplifies how diverse voices are needed in order for labor to succeed.”  

We look forward to seeing Shuler and Redmond’s continued dedication to the labor movement and all that they will accomplish.