On Thursday, August 5, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka passed away suddenly at the age of 72. From his days as a rank-and-file Mineworker to his AFL-CIO presidency beginning in 2009, Rich was one of our nation’s fiercest advocates for working people.
From workplace safety to racial justice to retirement security to labor law reform, Rich never stopped fighting to ensure that working people had dignity and security on and off the job.
His leadership and his commitment to fighting for working families served as an inspiration to so many. He will be missed. Our deepest condolences go out to his wife Barbara, his son Rich Jr., and his entire family.
As collective bargaining rights across the country come under attack, we must continue to fight on in Rich’s memory. Together, we can honor his legacy by moving towards a more just world for all workers.
May he rest in power.