In Memoriam: Norm Gleichman

by Clyde Weiss  |  January 18, 2013

Norm Gleichman

AFSCME mourns the loss of Norm Gleichman, deputy general counsel of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), who helped our two unions foster labor peace and organizing growth through “no-raid” and representation agreements.

Gleichman, 58, died Jan. 11 while on vacation with his family in Mexico.

A resident of Takoma Park, Md., Gleichman joined SEIU in 2002, having worked previously at the Communications Workers of America (CWA) and then as general counsel of the Federal Mine Safety and Review Commission during the administration of Pres. Bill Clinton.

At SEIU, Gleichman’s responsibilities included supervising legal issues involving the union’s advocacy on behalf of working families, and fighting income inequality. An expert on inter-union relations, he also helped bridge relations with AFSCME, especially in growing union strength through joint organizing efforts.

With his guidance, the two unions reached a “no-raid” agreement in 2005 that neither union would attempt to raid, decertify as a union or otherwise interfere with existing representation rights. The agreement also established a joint committee to address issues of union density and jurisdiction, and created a joint "Unity Local" of child care providers in California and Pennsylvania.

In 2010, that cooperation extended to Missouri, where approximately 12,000 home care attendants united in the Missouri Home Care Union, a partnership between AFSCME Council 72 and SEIU.

“Norm was invaluable in helping AFSCME and SEIU bridge the gap between our two great unions,” said AFSCME Pres. Lee Saunders. “He worked tirelessly on behalf of workers seeking strength on the job through union representation. We will miss his expertise and his friendship.”