Longtime Local 433 member Craig Romanovich was recently appointed executive director of the AFL-CIO’s Union Veterans Council (UVC). The UVC is one of the national federation’s seven official constituency organizations.
Romanovich, a U.S. Army veteran and 25-year employee of the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority (ALCOSAN), began his new role on October 6, 2025. He’ll divide his time between Washington, D.C., and travel across the country to support state and local UVC chapters.
The Union Veterans Council unites working-class veterans to advocate for good jobs, fair treatment, and a strong, fully funded Veterans Administration. It holds corporations and policymakers accountable for their actions affecting veterans and their families, emphasizing that being “pro-veteran” means taking real, constructive action — not relying on slogans or symbolism.
Romanovich brings decades of experience at the intersection of labor and military service to this new role. A former Army power generation mechanic (1993–1998), he chaired the Pittsburgh Labor Council’s local UVC chapter and served on the UWUA National Veterans Committee for Region II. He credits the UWUA’s nationally recognized Utility Workers Military Assistance Program (UMAP) as a model for helping veterans transition successfully into union careers.
“Craig has a unique combination of union and veteran leadership experience that allows him to hit the ground running,” said UWUA President James Slevin.
As executive director, Romanovich will lead efforts to expand the UVC’s presence nationwide, build new state chapters, and strengthen partnerships with Department of Defense programs such as SkillBridge, which connects service members to union apprenticeships and lifelong careers.
“I’m honored to represent both veterans and union members on a national scale,” Romanovich said. “Veterans deserve the dignity of good jobs and the solidarity of the labor movement. That’s what this work is all about.”