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Drea, Devaney new IL AFL-CIO leaders

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Illinois

* Press release…

The Illinois AFL-CIO Executive Board elected Tim Drea as President of the 855,000 statewide member organization following the recent retirement of Michael T. Carrigan.

Drea previously served as Illinois AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer for 12 years and will fill the remaining term.

“I am honored and humbled to serve as President of the Illinois AFL-CIO, one of the leading labor organizations in the nation,” Drea said. “I thank Michael Carrigan for his years of service as president and I am excited to continue to represent union members in protecting their rights, working conditions, and safety on the job. The labor movement in Illinois is diverse and united in the common goal of making Illinois a better place for all working families.”

Born and raised in Taylorville, Drea started his career as a rank and file member of the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA). After being laid-off due to a depressed Illinois coal market, he joined the Illinois State Democratic Staff for five years, and then served as Legislative and Political Director of Local 881 of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW). He was elected Secretary-Treasurer of the Illinois AFL-CIO in 2007 and re-elected in 2008, 2012, and 2016. A veteran of the United States Marine Corps, he resides in Springfield with his wife Elizabeth. He has four children: Andrew, Bridget, Lillian, and Jack.

The Executive Board also elected Pat Devaney, President of the Associated Fire Fighters of Illinois (AFFI), to fill the unexpired term of Drea as Secretary-Treasurer. He started his career as a City of Champaign fire fighter with the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 1260 in 1995 and currently serves as a lieutenant for the department. He was elected President of the AFFI in 2008, representing over 15,000 fire fighters throughout the state; he also has served as a Vice President of the Illinois AFL-CIO for over 11 years.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Dec 5, 19 @ 10:36 am

Comments

Congratulations to Tim! I have known him for several years, having first met him through his mother (who was a real hoot, and a pleasure to be around). I wish him nothing but the best, and I know he will be a great president and leader for Illinois AFL-CIO.

Comment by Silent Budgeteer Thursday, Dec 5, 19 @ 10:47 am
Two fine and capable men will be running the AFL CIO great choices. I know both men personally and they will do a great job

Comment by Honeybadger Thursday, Dec 5, 19 @ 11:38 am
Further proof that diversity is indeed an old, old wooden ship used in the Civil War.

Comment by City Zen Thursday, Dec 5, 19 @ 11:49 am
I truly wish them the best The union movement is a shell of what it used to be in this nation- outside of the public sector. And it seems to be ever declining.

Automation, export of jobs by companies and massive importation of cheap labor from foreign nations makes this a tough fight. Unions had better make areal attempt to address the issues I have outlined or it will get a lot worse.

Comment by OpentoDiscusssion Thursday, Dec 5, 19 @ 12:00 pm
Congrats to both!

Comment by Les Nesman Thursday, Dec 5, 19 @ 12:17 pm
Congratulations to both men. They are both extremely smart, hard working and affable.

Comment by AFFI member Friday, Dec 6, 19 @ 1:36 pm