Black Labor Union Leader Sworn In

July 20, 2010, Minority News

http://www.blackradionetwork.com/page.php?storyID=15274

WASHINGTON -- When Lee Saunders was sworn-in as International
Secretary-Treasurer of the American Federation of State,
County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), AFL-CIO, he became
one of the highest-ranking African-Americans in the American
labor movement. Representing 1.6 million public service
workers, AFSCME is one of the largest unions in the country.

The Cleveland, OH native says that he intends to use his new
position to "stand up for the dignity of all work and all
working people."

Pledging his commitment to AFSCME members and workers across
the country, he noted:  "Throughout our history, this has
been what we do. We come together in support of those whose
names may never be known, but whose work safeguards
neighborhoods and strengthens communities."

Prior to his election as Secretary-Treasurer, Saunders served
as the Executive Assistant to President Gerald W. McEntee.
AsPres. McEntee's top aide, Saunders oversaw the union's
legislative, political, retiree and public affairs
activities. In addition, he created the AFSCME/UNCF Union
Scholars Program, a unique partnership with the United Negro
College Fund to embrace young people of color who want to
join the labor movement.

Saunders has managed what is acknowledged to be one of the
most effective political and legislative operations in the
American labor movement.  In 2009-10, he supervised the
largest grassroots mobilization effort in the union's history
to help pass President Obama's health care reform initiative.

When he started his first full-time job as a contract
specialist at the Ohio Department of Employment Services,
Saunders immediately joined OCSEA, the Ohio Civil Service
Employee Association. He subsequently joined the AFSCME staff
in 1978.

Saunders says the union's top priority is to protect public
services at a time when state and local governments face
daunting budget gaps. Other goals include fighting against
the privatization of vital public services and promoting the
recruitment and training of young union leaders. He pledged
to help local unions across the country mount a full-scale
campaign to protect the benefits and retirement security that
AFSCME members fought for and won at the bargaining table.

Saunders grew up in a union household in Cleveland, Ohio. His
father was a bus driver and a member of The Amalgamated
Transit Union (ATU). After raising two sons, his mother went
back to college and became a community college professor and
a member of the American Association of University Professors
(AAUP).

Lee and his wife Lynne live in Washington, DC and have two
sons, Lee, Jr. and Ryan.

A detailed biography of Lee Saunders is available at:
http://www.afscme.org/saunders

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