Vincent Alvarez to Step Down as President of the NYC Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO after More Than a Decade of Transformational Leadership
New York, NY, June 12, 2025 — The New York City Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO (“CLC”) announced today CLC President Vincent Alvarez will be stepping down effective July 1, 2025, after 14 years leading the nation’s largest regional Labor federation.
Since taking office in 2011 as the CLC’s first full-time President and first Latino President, Alvarez has led a restructured and reinvigorated federation. Together with the CLC’s affiliates, he has helped shape a truly unified citywide Labor Movement, one that has confronted some of the most pressing challenges facing working New Yorkers. Under his leadership, the CLC has stood at the forefront of the city’s response and recovery from Superstorm Sandy and the COVID-19 pandemic; fought for responsible economic development and against the tide of rising inequality; and mobilized to engage in the fight to reverse climate change while creating and preserving family-sustaining union jobs.
During Alvarez’s tenure, the CLC has consistently championed the fight for higher wages, retirement security, and adequately funded public services, including municipal government, public education, and transit. The CLC has supported critical efforts to organize workers in both emerging and existing industries, and stood in solidarity during strikes, contract fights, and mobilizations across sectors. More recently, under his leadership, the CLC has assisted in coordinating Labor’s response to the anti-worker agenda of the federal government, and continues to build collective power to confront the challenges of tomorrow.
“Serving as President of the NYC Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO and working on behalf of its more than one million union members has been the honor of my life, and I am filled with an immense sense of pride in all we’ve accomplished together over the past 14 years,” said Alvarez. “We are stronger, more united, and better prepared to meet our ongoing challenges as the nation’s largest regional Labor federation. New York City is a Union Town, and our power will always come from our unified voice and collective action. I am deeply grateful to the Executive Board, staff, affiliates and delegates of the CLC for their unwavering support and solidarity throughout the years. It has been a privilege to stand shoulder to shoulder with you, and I have every confidence that together, our Labor Movement will continue to grow worker power and advance the fight for dignity, justice, and respect for all working people.”
“Vinny Alvarez has spent his life tirelessly fighting for the rights and wellbeing of working people in the city that never sleeps,” said AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler. “Vinny's an organizer at heart who strengthened one of the most robust and vibrant labor movements in the country. His legacy can be seen in every New York City worker who has a good union job, with a contract that provides for their families and improves their workplace. I join the entire New York labor movement in expressing my deep gratitude to Vinny for all he's done to elevate our movement in New York City and nationally. I'm proud to call Vinny my IBEW brother and friend, and wish him the absolute best in retirement, though we know he'll never be far from the fight.”
“I have known and worked with Vinny for nearly two decades and have seen firsthand his passion and dedication to the Union Movement,” said Mario Cilento, President of the New York State AFL-CIO. “His deep understanding of the issues important to working people is unparalleled, and he always presents Labor’s point of view in such detail that no one can better articulate the challenges workers face. He has been a tireless advocate for workers’ rights, dignity, and respect throughout his tenure as President of the New York City Central Labor Council, and undoubtedly made many sacrifices along the way. I wish him good health, happiness, and the opportunity to fully enjoy his next chapter.”
"For more than a decade, Vincent Alvarez has been a constant and outspoken advocate for the rights and interests of some of New York City's hardest-working people, including our tradesmen and tradeswomen," said Gary LaBarbera, President of the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York. "With his departure from the NYC CLC, he leaves the labor movement better than he found it and with a legacy sown by strong leadership, progress, and collaboration. BCTC is grateful for his contributions to and advocacy for our cause and wish him well as he enters this next wonderful chapter."
“For the last 14 years, Vincent Alvarez has provided steady, thoughtful, and invaluable leadership of the New York City Central Labor Council,” said NYSNA President Nancy Hagans, RN, BSN, CCRN. “NYSNA nurses and the entire New York City labor movement have significantly benefited from his solidarity and friendship, which has helped us win strong contracts and fight for working people. We appreciate all he’s done for the labor movement in this city and wish him the best.”
“Vinny Alvarez is a smart, strategic leader who has helped navigate us through very difficult times in the labor movement,” said Henry Garrido, Executive Director of District Council 37, AFSCME. “He deserves all the credit in the world for making the Central Labor Council one of the most powerful organizations in the country. We wish him well.”
“UAW Region 9A has been busy organizing the most new unions in New York City over the past decade. The whole time we knew we could count on Vinny Alvarez and the CLC to come through for us on every single organizing drive, contract campaign, and strike that we’ve waged during his leadership,” said UAW Region 9A Director Brandon Mancilla. “We will miss him, but we are also sure that he has left his mark on the CLC to support new organizing and fights against corporate greed.”
The CLC Executive Board has unanimously voted to appoint Brendan Griffith, the CLC’s longtime Chief of Staff, to serve as Acting President effective July 1. A full transition process is underway, with additional updates to be announced in the coming weeks.
The New York City Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO 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 NYC CLC brings together 300 local unions from every trade, occupation, public and private sector of the New York economy. We represent more than one 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. Learn more at NYCCLC.org.
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Thursday, June 12, 2025
Contact: Kate Whalen, 347-453-7131, kwhalen@nycclc.org