Boland, Smith Join Executive Council
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The AFL-CIO Executive Council welcomed two new members at its meeting in Orlando today: Bricklayers (BAC) President James Boland and Bruce Smith, president of the Glass, Molders, Pottery, Plastics and Allied Workers (GMP).
The council also honored retiring council members John Ryan,, John Flynn and UAW Secretary-Treasurer Elizabeth Bunn.
New council member Boland served as BAC’s secretary-treasurer before taking over from Flynn, who recently retired. In its statement honoring Flynn’s service, the council says;
Organizing heads up Flynn’s legacies to the BAC, but there are many others-stewards training, new member orientation, labor-management craft committees, the National Training Center, health care purchasing coalitions and much more.
Smith joined GMP in 1972 and held various offices until he was elected as secretary-treasurer in 2004. He was sworn in as GMP president in January, taking over for Ryan, who now serves as assistant to the president.
The council statement said one of Ryan’s most important accomplishments is the contracts he helped win for his members.
In 2008 alone, GMP negotiated contracts with three giant glass companies-Owens Illinois, St. Gobain and Anchor Glass-that actually improved on earlier contracts despite overwhelming pressure to make concessions.
Bunn, the highest ranking woman in her union’s history, was honored in the council statement as “a pioneer in the organizing of graduate employees and other white-collar workers.”
Her strategic vision and creativity are credited with helping tens of thousands of people win better lives.
Bunn has been named AFL-CIO Organizing Director.
