Benner Steps Down But into a New Post

MINNESOTA

Retirement is not going to slow down Peter Benner.

Benner, 55, served AFSCME for 20 years as executive director of what is now the former Minnesota AFSCME Council 6. But his retirement in January opened another door for his talents: He is executive director of the "21st Century Committee," established at the 36th International Convention last June to examine how to strengthen the union and make it more effective (see related story).

He will continue to serve as an International vice president.

Benner's most recent accomplishment was to help bring the four Minnesota councils into a closer partnership. Three of them — Councils 6, 14 and 96 — merged last year, creating AFSCME's new Council 5.