First Elected in 2011, the President and Secretary-Treasurer Will Serve Third Four-Year Term

New York, NY – The delegates of the New York City Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO on Thursday approved third terms for President Vincent Alvarez and Secretary-Treasurer Janella T. Hinds. The vote carried by acclamation at a meeting of 178 delegates representing 88 unions.

Alvarez and Hinds, the labor federation’s first Latino President and Black Secretary-Treasurer, respectively, have a combined 52 years in the labor movement.  President Alvarez, a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 3, worked in the electrical industry for 17 years before becoming a staffer at the CLC and later the New York State AFL-CIO. An educator by trade, Secretary-Treasurer Hinds got her start in labor as a social studies teacher, and has also worked for the New York State AFL-CIO.  Ms. Hinds is currently the UFT’s Vice President of Academic High Schools. Both were elected to the CLC for the first time in 2011.

The delegates also elected the CLC’s 40-member Executive Board. All 38 previously serving Board members were re-elected; new members will include Jonathan Smith, President of the New York Metro Area Postal Union, APWU, and Myra Hepburn, Secretary-Treasurer of OPEIU Local 153.

“Janella and I are both honored to have been re-elected to serve alongside the CLC’s dedicated Executive Board members, who remind us each and every day of our mission to fight for all working New Yorkers,” said Alvarez. “We look forward to working with them and with all of our affiliate unions over the coming year to address the many challenges and opportunities facing working people today.”

“Vinny and Janella are proven leaders whose years of dedicated service have made the New York City CLC a powerful force in improving the lives of working people across the city,” said AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka. “New York City is union strong and the leadership provided by the CLC is vital to bringing together diverse voices as we fight to uplift all working families.”

“When unions work together, we win together and no one knows that better than Vinny and Janella,” said Stuart Appelbaum, President of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU). “This incredible team has led New York’s labor movement through the tough challenges workers are facing in the future world of work. They have shown that labor is stronger than ever. And we congratulate them on their re-election and look forward to working with them and the New York City Central Labor Council on critical efforts that will help so many New Yorkers.”

The election results became official last night, following a five-day period as required by rules governing the CLC. Terms will officially begin on July 1.

About the NYC Central Labor Council: The New York City Central Labor Council is a non-profit labor membership organization devoted to supporting, advancing and advocating for the working people of New York City. As the nation's largest regional labor federation, the NYCCLC brings together 300 local unions from every trade, occupation, public and private sector of the New York economy. We represent 1.3 million workers, including teachers, truck drivers, operating engineers, nurses, construction workers, electricians, firefighters, retail workers, janitors, train operators, bakers, and many more who are the backbone of today’s workforce.

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