APWU President Jonathan Smith Elected to AFL-CIO Executive Council

APWU President Jonathan Smith was elected to the AFL-CIO Executive Council at its Winter Meeting held in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, March 4. The Executive Council of the AFL-CIO is the main governing body that directs the work of the organization between national conventions. The council sets direction, makes key decisions, and oversees the AFL-CIO’s operations.

“As a newly elected member of the Executive Council, I am honored to be the voice of our 200,000 members and look forward to working with AFL-CIO leaders to help strengthen the labor movement,” said APWU President Smith. “I thank the Executive Council members for voting for me to join the council. I know I’ve got big shoes to fill. Like Mark, I am not afraid to speak my mind. And I’m a team player, so I look forward to working together to strengthen our labor movement, protect the public Postal Service, and uplift the working class.” 

Former APWU President Mark Dimondstein, who held the APWU’s seat since February 2014, gave a farewell to the council and introduced President Smith.

“See you in the trenches fighting fascism, advancing independent working-class issue-based politics, winning health care as a human right, fighting for shorter work weeks, organizing the unorganized and opposing unjust imperialist wars and genocide for oil and corporate profits,” he said. “Now it is my privilege and pleasure to introduce Jonathan Smith…I know him to be a man of deep principle, willing to speak his mind and always put our members and the working class first. I pass the torch!”

The AFL-CIO is a federation of 64 national and international labor unions that represents nearly 15 million working people. The two top officers and 55 vice presidents make up the AFL-CIO Executive Council. These democratically elected officials are responsible for guiding the work of the federation.

Being part of the AFL-CIO strengthens the APWU’s collective power, political voice, and organizational capacity. It turns individual unions into a part of the larger national labor movement, building working class power and cross-union solidarity.