Difference between revisions of "Lee Saunders"
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Prior to his election, Saunders served as Executive Assistant to [[AFSCME]] Pres. [[Gerald McEntee]] and has been responsible for managing what is acknowledged to be the most effective political and legislative operations in the history of the American labor movement. AFSCME’s clout in fundraising and member mobilization, and its lobbying expertise are unmatched in the ranks of the AFL-CIO and beyond. | Prior to his election, Saunders served as Executive Assistant to [[AFSCME]] Pres. [[Gerald McEntee]] and has been responsible for managing what is acknowledged to be the most effective political and legislative operations in the history of the American labor movement. AFSCME’s clout in fundraising and member mobilization, and its lobbying expertise are unmatched in the ranks of the AFL-CIO and beyond. | ||
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| + | ==Background/education== | ||
| + | Saunders grew up in a union household in Cleveland, Ohio. This inspired him to join the Ohio Civil Service Employees Association (OCSEA) when he began working for the Ohio Department of Employment Services in 1974. His father was a bus driver and a member of the [[Amalgamated Transit Union]]. After raising two sons, his mother returned to college and became a community college professor and a member of the [[American Association of University Professors]]. | ||
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| + | He received a Master of Arts degree from Ohio State University in 1974, a year after earning his Bachelor of Arts degree from Ohio University. In 2002, the College of New Rochelle awarded him an honorary doctorate degree in Humane Letters. | ||
==AFSCME activism== | ==AFSCME activism== | ||
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Saunders serves as a vice president of the[[ AFL-CIO]] Executive Council, which guides the daily work of the labor federation. He is an at-large member of the [[Democratic National Committee]], treasurer of the [[Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights]] and a member of the Executive Committee of the [[Congressional Black Caucus Institute]]’s 21st Century Committee. In addition, Saunders serves on the board of the [[Progressive States Network]], which supports progressive state legislators with research, policy, communication and strategic resources. | Saunders serves as a vice president of the[[ AFL-CIO]] Executive Council, which guides the daily work of the labor federation. He is an at-large member of the [[Democratic National Committee]], treasurer of the [[Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights]] and a member of the Executive Committee of the [[Congressional Black Caucus Institute]]’s 21st Century Committee. In addition, Saunders serves on the board of the [[Progressive States Network]], which supports progressive state legislators with research, policy, communication and strategic resources. | ||
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==Progressive States Network== | ==Progressive States Network== | ||
Revision as of 22:04, 24 February 2011
Lee A. Saunders is the Secretary-Treasurer of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO, which represents 1.6 million workers. He was elected at the union’s 39th International Convention in July 2010.
Prior to his election, Saunders served as Executive Assistant to AFSCME Pres. Gerald McEntee and has been responsible for managing what is acknowledged to be the most effective political and legislative operations in the history of the American labor movement. AFSCME’s clout in fundraising and member mobilization, and its lobbying expertise are unmatched in the ranks of the AFL-CIO and beyond.
Background/education
Saunders grew up in a union household in Cleveland, Ohio. This inspired him to join the Ohio Civil Service Employees Association (OCSEA) when he began working for the Ohio Department of Employment Services in 1974. His father was a bus driver and a member of the Amalgamated Transit Union. After raising two sons, his mother returned to college and became a community college professor and a member of the American Association of University Professors.
He received a Master of Arts degree from Ohio State University in 1974, a year after earning his Bachelor of Arts degree from Ohio University. In 2002, the College of New Rochelle awarded him an honorary doctorate degree in Humane Letters.
AFSCME activism
Building on ideas generated by local unions, Saunders has championed AFSCME’s Next Wave initiative to encourage and develop the next generation of union leadership. He has also developed and supported programs that foster diversity and promote increased member participation within the union.
Saunders has served as administrator of a number of AFSCME councils and large local unions across the country. For nearly four years, he served as administrator of AFSCME District Council 37, New York City’s largest public employee union, representing 125,000 members. In that capacity, he was successful in restoring the fiscal health, integrity and good name of the council and its 56 affiliated local unions.
Saunders serves as a vice president of theAFL-CIO Executive Council, which guides the daily work of the labor federation. He is an at-large member of the Democratic National Committee, treasurer of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and a member of the Executive Committee of the Congressional Black Caucus Institute’s 21st Century Committee. In addition, Saunders serves on the board of the Progressive States Network, which supports progressive state legislators with research, policy, communication and strategic resources.
Progressive States Network
In 2010, Lee Saunders served on the Board of Directors for the Progressive States Network, an organization which seeks to "transform the political landscape by sparking progressive actions at the state level".[1]
References
- ↑ PSN website: Board of Directors (accessed on Sept. 1, 2010)