DNC Hispanic Caucus Praises Linda Chavez-Thompson on Her Retirement From the AFL-CIO
September 21, 2007
Effective today, the first woman of color elected as top officer at the National AFL-CIO, Linda Chavez-Thompson, will retire from her historic position. Chavez-Thompson, a second generation American and the daughter of cotton sharecroppers, won election as Executive Vice President of the AFL-CIO in 1995.
According to the AFL-CIO, Chavez-Thompson will continue serving as first executive vice president emerita, and continue to chair the AFL-CIO Immigration Committee and serve as the head of the Inter-American Regional Organization of Workers (ORIT).
Linda Chavez-Thompson is one of five Democratic National Committee (DNC) Vice-Chairs, a post she will continue to hold, and a member of the DNC Hispanic Caucus.
DNC Hispanic Caucus Acting Chair Ramona Martinez issued the following statement:
"Linda Chavez-Thompson has not only been a key leader in the labor movement over many years, she has also been an inspiration to millions of women and Hispanics. Linda has proven by example that there are no glass ceilings women and minorities can't break. Her work championing the rights of working families, women, minorities and immigrants exemplified a commitment to fighting for the greater good and never leaving anyone behind. Linda broke new ground and in doing so not only improved countless lives, but touched countless individuals. I'm honored to have known and worked with Linda for more than 30 years, and know she will be deeply missed as she begins her well deserved retirement."
