AFT members nationwide reacted with shock and sadness to the sudden death Thursday of longtime AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka. AFT is affiliated with AFL-CIO.
AFT President Randi Weingarten released a statement: “Rich Trumka was our brother in the truest sense of the word. His sudden passing is a tremendous loss for the entire labor movement, and for working families across the country. From his first mining job in the late ’60s, to joining the staff of the United Mine Workers of America and eventually becoming president, to his fierce and courageous leadership of the AFL-CIO for more than a decade, Rich fought his entire life for dignity and respect for American workers.“