Saunders, Reyes Elected to Lead AFSCME
Growing the union and investing in councils and locals, top priorities.
LOS ANGELES — In an historic election, delegates to AFSCME’s 40th International Convention this summer elected Lee Saunders president and Laura Reyes secretary-treasurer. In his first presidential address, Saunders told delegates that we “must work our hearts out to re-elect President Obama” to meet the tough challenges facing labor and working families.
In her remarks, Reyes focused on the critical importance of building a stronger union by organizing traditional and non-traditional workers. Reyes, president of UDW Homecare Providers Union/AFSCME Local 3930, becomes AFSCME’s first woman secretary-treasurer.
“We will dig deep into every state, every city to organize new workers from every sector,” Reyes said. “Our reason for organizing is not just to collect more dues, or boast higher numbers. Our reason for organizing is our reason for being: to give every worker a fair shot in a world where the deck is stacked against us.”
Besides increasing efforts to organize new members, she said, AFSCME will fight hard for fair contracts. “Pay, pensions, non-discrimination measures, health care, workplace safety, leave — it’s all on the table. And we
will give up nothing for working families.”
Saunders, a former state worker in Ohio and AFSCME’s secretary-treasurer, succeeds Gerald W. McEntee, who retired after 31 years as president. He is the fourth president since the union’s formation 75 years ago in Madison, Wis., and the first African-American president of AFSCME. Saunders called McEntee “a fearless and visionary leader.”
In the spirit of the Convention’s theme — “Solidarity.” — Saunders pledged to lead a united AFSCME and pointed out that our enemies were outside the convention hall, not in it. “We start fresh. What unites us is our belief in, and love for, AFSCME. We are family, and we always will be.”
Saunders received 683,628 votes to 582,358 for Danny Donohue, CSEA/Local 1000 president and International vice president. In the race for secretary-treasurer, Reyes received 661,413 votes to 603,624 for Alice Goff, District Council 36 president. The election was administered independently by the American Arbitration Association.
“Both Laura and I are committed to our members and cherish this union,” Saunders said. “We had a vigorous and energetic campaign, but now the union will pull together to win victories for working families and our members all across this great country.”
“We know that Wall Street and their allies are engaged in an all-out assault against our members and the services we provide. They know that AFSCME stands in the way of their efforts to destroy the middle class. We are united in our commitment to stand up for the men and women who care for America’s children, nurse the sick, plow our streets, collect the household trash and protect our communities. Our members are a cross-section of America, not some elite group as our opponents try to claim. We are energized and ready for the battles ahead.”
Additionally, the following International vice presidents were elected to AFSCME’s International Executive Board at the Convention:
California District: Kathryn Lybarger, Ralph Miller
Capital District: Glenard Middleton Sr.
Central District: Dave Warrick
CSEA District: Mary Sullivan, Nick LaMorte*, Kathy Garrison
Eastern District: Mattie Harrell
Hawaii District: Randy Perreira
Illinois District: Henry Bayer, Roberta Lynch
Michigan District: Larry Roehrig
Midwestern District: Danny Homan
New York City District: Lillian Roberts, Eddie Rodriguez
New York State District: Raglan George Jr.
North Central District: Eliot Seide
No. New England District: Alva Arellano
Northwestern District: Ken Allen, Greg Devereux
NUHHCE District: Henry Nicholas, Ken Deitz, RN
OAPSE District: Joe Rugola
OCSEA District: Christopher Mabe
Ohio District: John Lyall
Pennsylvania District: David Fillman, Michael Fox
Puerto Rico District: Braulio Torres
So. New England District: Salvatore Luciano
Southeastern District: Jeanette Wynn
Southwestern District: Greg Powell
UDW District: Johanna Puno Hester, Douglas Moore Jr.
Wisconsin District: Gary Mitchell
Retiree representative: Gary Tavormina was elected by the Retiree Council as the liaison to the Board.
* LaMorte resigned; Danny Donohue, CSEA/Local 1000 president, was elected.
