Linda Chavez-Thompson

Linda Chavez-Thompson was "elected Executive Vice President of the AFL-CIO on October 25, 1995 at the federation's convention in New York, part of an insurgent campaign to reinvigorate the American labor movement. She was re-elected on September 30, 1997 to a four-year term.

"A second-generation American of Mexican descent, Chavez-Thompson has thirty years of experience in the labor movement. She rose from the organizing ranks of her union, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), to become the first person of color elected to an executive office of the AFL-CIO. She is the highest ranking woman in the labor movement.

"Born to sharecropper parents in Lubbock, Texas, Chavez-Thompson began her trade union career as union secretary for the Laborers' International Union from December 1967 through June 1971. She became an International Union Representative of the AFSCME from 1971-1973. She also served in several positions with both the San Antonio Local and Texas Council of AFSCME from 1973 through 1995. In her capacity she was responsible for advancing legislative, political action, and education programs, as well as conducting every level of grievance procedures for membership representation.

"Chavez-Thompson was an International President of AFSCME from June 1988 through 1996. As Vice President of AFSCME, she directed the union's efforts in a seven-state district -- Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah -- an area that is widely recognized as unfriendly to labor. Prior to her election as Executive Vice President, Chavez-Thompson served as a Vice-President of the AFL-CIO since August 3, 1993. She also served as a National Vice-President of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement from 1986 through 1996.

"Since her election, Chavez-Thompson has become active in many national organizations, as part of AFL-CIO's program to work with other community groups. She serves on several boards and committees which include: the United Way's Board of Governors, Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee, member of the Board of Trustees of the Labor Heritage Foundation, Executive Committee member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, Board member of the Institute for Women's Policy Research, and the U.S. State Department Advisory Committee on Labor Diplomacy.

"She was appointed by President William Jefferson Clinton to serve on the President's Initiative on Race, as well as to serve as Vice Chair of the President's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities.

"Prior to moving to Washington, D.C. in November 1998, Chavez-Thompson resided in San Antonio, Texas. She is the widow of Robert Thompson."

Copied from the DNC web site.

She is a trustee of the Solidarity Center.

Related SourceWatch Resources

 * Solidarity Center
 * Texas 2008 presidential primary and superdelegates