Seafarers International Union 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 July 18-19 at AFL-CIO headquarters in Washington, D.C. He is one of 55 affiliate presidents and other officers that collectively serve as the governing body for the federation of labor unions. The SIU is an affiliate of the AFL-CIO.
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 thanking retired SIU President Michael Sacco for his tenure on the council (the full text appears below).
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.
The statement reads:
On the Retirement of Michael Sacco
The AFL-CIO Executive Council celebrates the service of our brother and friend, Michael Sacco, the longest-serving president in the history of the Seafarers International Union (SIU).
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.
A native of Brooklyn, Sacco served in the U.S. Air Force before joining the Seafarers in 1958 and then working aboard U.S.-flag merchant vessels. In 1960, he came ashore to serve the SIU in a succession of union posts, including those of patrolman, port agent and headquarters representative. He served as vice president of the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship from 1968 to 1979, and helped prepare the next generation of merchant mariners. From 1980 to 1988, Sacco directed the SIU’s Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters division as vice president, and in June 1988, the Seafarers International Union of North America Executive Board appointed him president, a post he would hold for nearly 35 years.
In November 1991, Sacco was elected to the AFL-CIO Executive Council, beginning his tenure as its longest-serving member.
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.
Mike Sacco dedicated his life to the SIU and to furthering the values of trade unionism. He is an inspiration to us all and we wish him a long, happy and healthy retirement.
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