Intl. Pres. Jones elected AFL-CIO vice president

FOR THE FIRST time in 47 years, the Boilermakers will have a seat on the AFL-CIO executive board, with the election of International President Newton B. Jones as a vice president of the labor federation. Elections took place Sept. 16 at the AFL-CIO's convention in Pittsburgh.

Boilermakers also enjoyed the convention spotlight two days earlier, when Local 19 Secretary-Treasurer Fred Chamberlain was honored as one of the labor movement's political heroes for his work to help elect Barack Obama president in 2008.

The 2009 convention saw historic changes in the AFL-CIO's leadership. Richard Trumka, the former secretary-treasurer, was unanimously elected president. He succeeds John Sweeney, who retired. And two women also have top leadership roles. Elizabeth Shuler was elected secretary-treasurer. She is the first female to hold that office and, at age 39, also the youngest person to do so. Arlene Holt Baker, an African-American woman, was re-elected executive vice president.

Local 19 Secretary-Treasurer Fred Chamberlain is honored at the AFL-CIO convention.
Photo by Bill Burke/Page One Photography

Rich Trumka, left, shares a moment with Intl. Pres. Newton Jones at an event in July. The federation elected Trumka president and Jones a vice president Sept. 16.
Photo by Kaveh Sardari/Together We Can. Together We Will.