An SIU official and a chief shop steward from the Seafarers-affiliated United Industrial Workers (UIW) made history in July when they were voted to key positions in the Texas AFL-CIO.SIU Vice President Gulf Coast Dean Corgey and Mike Armstrong, chief shop steward at the UIW-contracted Crown Cork & Seal plant in Abilene, Texas, became the first two individuals affiliated with the SIU to occupy state labor federation executive board posts simultaneously in any state in the union. Corgey was re-elected vice president for District 3, Texas AFL-CIO while Armstrong was chosen as vice president for the federation’s District 15. Both were selected for their posts during the federation’s 43rd Constitutional Convention in Austin, Texas.
This marks at least the seventh time that Corgey has been chosen for the vice president’s post in District 3.
Armstrong, like Corgey, is no stranger to the labor movement or to the importance of grassroots political action. He currently is a four-term president of the Abilene/Big Country Central Labor Council. Armstrong also is serving his second three-year term as chief shop steward.
Elsewhere at the convention, Communications Workers of America Local 6137 President Becky Moeller also made her mark in history. Moeller became the highest-ranking labor woman in Texas and the first woman ever to be elected to the office of secretary-treasurer.
Former secretary-treasurer and longtime labor official Emmett Sheppard was elected as the federation’s new president. Sheppard replaced Joe Gunn, who retired after holding the top office for 14 years.
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