MTD President David Heindel is the newest member of the AFL-CIO Executive Council.
Heindel was seated at the beginning of the organization’s summer meeting on July 18 at AFL-CIO headquarters in Washington, DC. He is one of 55 union presidents and other officers who serve as the governing body for the federation of labor unions. Besides leading the MTD, Heindel is president of the Seafarers International Union, an AFL-CIO affiliate.
In thanking the council for its unanimous vote, Heindel declared, “Anything the Seafarers can do domestically and internationally for each of the affiliates, we are here to help.”
Prior to Heindel’s election, AFL-CIO Secretary Treasurer Fred Redmond read a statement acknowledging retired SIU President Michael Sacco’s tenure on the council.
“During his more than three decades as international president and six decades of membership with SIU, Sacco proved to be a staunch champion for generations of merchant mariners and America’s working families. During his service as SIU president and president of the Maritime Trades Department, AFL-CIO, his leadership brought security and stability to the Seafarers, a successful merger with the National Maritime Union, and solidarity with the numerous maritime unions,” the statement outlined.
AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler noted Sacco was the longest serving member of the Executive Council when he retired. (He was elected in 1991.) She said she and Redmond were honored to have Sacco run their election to lead the AFL-CIO at last year’s convention in Philadelphia.