Richard Trumka was a labor leader who was the longtime president of the powerful union, the AFL-CIO.
- Died: August 5, 2021 (Who else died on August 5?)
- Details of death: Died of a heart attack at the age of 72.
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Labor leader
Trumka began his career in organized labor in the 1970s as a staff attorney for the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA). He later rose to president of the UMWA, serving from 1982 to 1995. During Trumka’s tenure with UMWA, he presided over major strikes against the Pittston Coal Company and Peabody Coal as well as a boycott of U.S. Shell regarding its business dealings in South Africa. In 1995, Trumka became secretary-treasurer of the AFL-CIO, the largest U.S. federation of labor unions, representing more than 12 million workers. He became the AFL-CIO’s president in 2009, serving until his death. Trumka was known for his passionate pro-labor stance and his attacks on corporate America.
Notable quote
“[W]hen workers have a voice on a job, it improves their lives, and it improves the economy as a whole.” —from a 2012 interview for Salon
Tributes to Richard Trumka
Full obituary: NPR
