Our brother and leader Richard Trumka passed away on August 5, 2021, at the age of 72. Since 2009, Trumka served as president of the AFL-CIO representing 56 unions and 12.5 million members.
“Rich was a true friend of the Utility Workers Union of America,” said UWUA President Slevin as he paid tribute to Trumka. “With his roots in the United Mine Workers of America, Trumka knew first-hand the challenges facing UWUA members.Trumka was an outspoken advocate for social and economic justice, and the nation’s clearest voice on the critical need to ensure that all workers have a good job and the power to determine their wages and working conditions. He will be sorely missed.”
Speaking to delegates to the 2019 UWUA convention, Trumka said, “I look around this room, and I remember why I’m in this fight. We turn bad jobs into good jobs. And, we turn good jobs into great jobs. We don’t do it for the money or the glory, the fame or the fortune. We do it because someone did it for us, and before that, someone did it for them. We do it because we’re called to. That’s who we are. We’re trade unionists.”