Fred Redmond

Fred Redmond

Fred Redmond is the International Vice President of Human Affairs of the United Steelworkers of America.

Labor activism

Elected by acclamation in 2005, Fred Redmond took office as the USW’s International Vice President (Human Affairs) on March 1, 2006.

Fred Redmond joined the Steelworkers union when he went to work at Reynolds Metals Company in McCook, Illinois, in 1973. He became an active member of Local 3911 sen/ing as shop steward, grievance committee member and chairman, vice-president and three terms as president.

ln 1996, Fred was appointed to the International Staff and serviced locals in the Chicago area. ln 1998, he was transferred to the union’s international Headquarters in Pittsburgh, where he developed and conducted training programs for the union’s Membership Development Department. He was also assigned by the Union’s International President to coordinate special projects, including amalgamations and assisting local unions in developing by-laws.

In 2002, he was appointed Assistant Director of USW District 7, where he served until his election as International Vice President (Human Affairs). in addition to his regular union duties, Fred serves as Chairman of the USW Container Industry Conference and coordinates bargaining for the USW Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals and Public Employees Sector.

On May 31, 2007, Fred Redmond was elected to the Board of Directors for Working America, a Community Affiliate of the AFL-CIO. On August 3, 2007, he was elected by unanimous assent as chairman of the Board of Directors of the A. Philip Randolph Institute . He also serves as the Regional 6 Representative for the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists . On March 4, 2008, Redmond was elected as a member to the AFL-CIO Executive Council and also serves on several of its committees.

"The People Have the Power"

Join us Sunday, Oct. 25, for a People's World event:

The People Have the Power: A Voter Town Hall

We’re now in the home stretch, the last big push before the election, but we can’t let up for a minute. Issues like COVID-19, the Heroes Act, aid for the unemployed climate change, the fight for jobs, and many others will be addressed by a panel of experienced leaders and organizers. The event will be streamed on Zoom.

Register here.

Details: Sunday, October 25, at 8:00 PM Eastern, 7:00 Central, 6:00 Mountain, 5:00 Pacific.

Speakers include:

• Fred Redmond, Vice President United Steelworkers
• Rev. Scott Marks, Chair, UNITE/HERE Black Leadership Committee
• Sandi Luckey, Executive Director, Montana Democratic Party
• Chuck Rocha, President, Solidarity Strategies

Moderated by People’s World Social Media Editor Chauncey K. Robinson.

With Trump threatening to not abide by election results and peacefully transfer power, voting, securing the ballot, and then defending are all vital. Concerned citizens cannot simply vote and go home. It’s going to take an energized and committed electorate engaging daily from now until the Inauguration in January to ensure the outcome.

Even after Trump is defeated, we’re going to have to continue to fight to make sure a people’s agenda is implemented.

CBTU Regional representatives

As of 2009, Fred Redmond was a regional representative of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists for Pittsburgh, Pennsilvania.

Maurice & Jane Sugar Law Center

In 2009, Fred Redmond was a member of the Host Committee for the Essential: Advocacy for Community Justice Reception & Silent Auction which was held at the Atlas Global Bistro, Detroit. The reception, which was held on Nov. 18, 2009 is the annual fundraising event to benefit the far left National Lawyers Guild-affiliated Maurice & Jane Sugar Law Center for Economic & Social Justice. Remarks were made by Steve Tobocman and the Maurice Sugar Voice for Justice Award was presented to Marilyn Mullane, Executive Director, Michigan Legal Services.

Van Jones award host committee

Screenshot of Essential: Advocacy for Community Justice reception (click image to enlarge)

On November 18, 2010, the far left Maurice & Jane Sugar Law Center for Economic & Social Justice presented "The Maurice Sugar Voice for Justice Award" to Van Jones "Human Rights Activists and Green-Jobs Advocate", at the United Way for Southeastern Michigan, 660 Woodward Ave, Suite 300.

Members of the Honorary Host Committee were;

• Jeffrey Breslin, RN, President, Michigan Nurses Association
• Hon. Hansen Clarke, Michigan Senate
• Hon. Kenneth V. Cockrel, Jr., Detroit City Council
• Diana Copeland, Executive Director, East Michigan Environmental Action Council
• David Elsila, Retired Editor, UAW Solidarity Magazine
• Leslie Fields, National Director of Environmental Justice, Sierra Club
• Michael Garfield, Director, The Ecology Center
• Ponsella Hardaway, Executive Director, MOSES
• W. Kim Heron, Editor, Metro Times
• Charity Hicks, Detroit Black Community Food Security Network
• Hon. Brenda Jones, Detroit City Council
• Bob King, President, UAW International
• Chris Kolb, President, Michigan Environmental Council
• Andy Levin, Acting Director, Michigan Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth
• Hon. Claudia Morcom, Retired Wayne County Circuit Court Judge
• Kary Moss, Executive Director, ACLU of Michigan
• Hasan Newash, Palestine Office of Michigan
• Fred Redmond, International Vice President, United Steelworkers
• Hon. JoAnn Watson, Detroit City Council
• Ed Wendel, General Counsel, United Food & Commercial Workers
• Saundra Williams, President, Metro Detroit AFL-CIO
• Diann Woodard, President, American Federation of School Administrators

Bail Out the People Movement march

A powerful march for jobs filled the streets Pittsburgh, Sept. 20, 2009 in the first major protest before the G-20 summit. Organizers estimate more than 1000 people joined the demonstration, which marched from the Hill district, the historic center of the city’s African American community, to Freedom Corner.

Organized the Bail Out the People Movement, speakers at the rally included Pam Africa, International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal; Nellie Bailey, Harlem Tenants Council; Mick Kelly, Minnesota Coalition for a People’s Bailout; Oscar Hernandez, participant in the 11-month Stella D’Oro bakery strike in New York City; Sandra Hines, Michigan Moratorium NOW! Coalition to Stop Foreclosures and Evictions; Larry Holmes, Bail Out the People Movement; Fred Redmond, vice-president of the United Steelworkers; Lynne Stewart, civil rights attorney and others.

Pays tribute to late communist activist

The fourth floor meeting room of the United Steelworkers national headquarters, in Pittsburgh, rang out with cheers, applause and music Nov. 19, 2012, as nearly 200 friends, family, neighbors, union brothers and sisters and comrades, gathered to pay tribute and celebrate the life of George Edwards.

The well known union and community activist and Communist Party USA leader died of heart failure Oct. 5.

"George was an activist every day of his adult life," USW President Leo Gerard said. "Even when he was red-baited, he stuck to his principles. He kept up the fight for social and economic justice."

Gerard was self-critical that, after the 2008 election, labor had "let Obama down. We should have been in the streets in 2009." But, "we learned our lesson and on election night, we won one for George. We must learn from George's life to never stop being an activist on behalf of working people."

"And that," said emcee and USW Vice President Fred Redmond, "is the best introduction to our next speaker, Sam Webb, National Chairman of the Communist Party."

"There is no better place to celebrate George's life," Webb said, thanking Gerard and the union for hosting the memorial. "This union meant everything to him," he said. "Nothing made George happier than to volunteer his labor in this building."

External links

• USW website