Council Delegates Elect '09-'11 leadership

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)

Metro Council delegates unanimously elected the 2009-11 Executive Board officers at the Council’s February Delegate Meeting Monday night at the AFL-CIO. Elected to his 9th term as President of on of the nation’s largest Labor Councils, Jos Williams thanked the delegates and affiliates “for your support and confidence” and, warning that “we face serious challenges as a people and as a movement,” pledged to work harder than ever “to retool ourselves for these new days.” New Board members include Chuck Graham (IBEW 26), Jaime Contreras (SEIU 32BJ), Michael Murphy (IUOE 99), Dena Briscoe (APWU) and Riley Gaines (IBEW 26); see below for complete list. The AFL-CIO’s Mike Cavanaugh - who swore in the Council officers - expressed his “deep pride and appreciation for the leadership of my home Council,” noting that when he’d asked for help on the phones and in the field last Fall “you stepped up and were a big part of our victory; you’re what solidarity is all about.” He also thanked the Council for the $1,000 contribution - as well as those from Council affiliates - to the “Turn Around America Media Fund” that will help counter an expected $200 million dollar media campaign by business against the Employee Free Choice Act. “It’s now or never for the freedom to choose a union,” Cavanaugh said, “This is our best chance in the last 30 years.” The following officers have been elected to serve on the Metro Washington Council AFL-CIO Executive Board through 2011: President: Jos Williams (AFSCME 2477); 1st VP: Gino Renne (UFCW 1994 MCGEO); 2nd VP: Doris Reed (ASASP); 3rd VP: Sandra Falwell (DCNA); Secretary: Merle Cuttitta (SEIU 500); Treasurer: Linda Bridges (OPEIU 2); Trustees: Fred Allen (GCC-IBT 285); Dena Briscoe (APWU); Sgt-at-Arms: Riley Gaines (IBEW 26); Board members: John Boardman (UNITE HERE 25); Carnell “Sonny” Reed (SEIU 400 PG); Mark Federici (UFCW 400); Carl Goldman (AFSCME Council 26); Thomas Ratliff (Teamsters 639); George Johnson (AFSCME Council 20); Chuck Graham (IBEW 26); Faith Jones (AFSCME 2250); Dan Dyer (OPEIU 2); Jaime Contreras (SEIU 32BJ); Anthony Frederick (Laborers 657); Anthony Garland (ATU 689); Vance Ayres (IUEC 10/WBCTC); Michael Murphy (IUOE 99). Click here for Board member photos. - photo by Adam Wright: Executive Board members being sworn in at Monday night's Metro Washington Council delegate meeting