In a statement, the federation confirmed Trumka’s death. After serving 14 years as secretary-treasurer of AFL-CIO, Trumka was elected president of AFL-CIO in 2009. He was able to oversee a federation of more than 12.5 millions members from his position and introduced a more aggressive style in leadership.
The AFL-CIO stated that “the labor movement, AFL-CIO, and the nation lost today a legend.” “Rich Trumka was a man who dedicated his entire life to working people. He was the president of the United Mine Workers of America, and he is now the voice of America’s labor movement.
Additional details about Trumka’s passing, including his cause of death and the place he died, weren’t immediately available.
Chuck Schumer, Senate Majority Leader, announced Trumka’s passing from the Senate Floor. He said that “The working people have lost a fierce fighter at a moment when we most needed him.”
Trumka was referred to by President Joe Biden as a “close friend” and “more than the head AFL-CIO”. He also apologized for arriving late to a meeting of Asian American civil rights leaders.
Trumka, a tall man with bushy mustache and thick eyebrows, was the grandson and son of coal miners. He was born in Nemacolin, a small town in southeast Pennsylvania. While attending Penn State University, Trumka worked as a coal miner.
At 33 years old, he was elected as the youngest president of United Mine Workers of America. He pledged that the troubled union would “rise again” in 1982.
He led a strike against Pittston Coal Company that was aimed at preventing them from paying into an industry-wide pension and health fund.
Trumka, 43 years old, led a nationwide strike against Peabody Coal. He caused controversy during the walk-off.
Trumka said that if the company was to hire permanent replacement workers, he would tell The Associated Press: “I’m saying if I strike a match, and you put your finger onto it, you’re likely get burned.” Trumka also assured The Associated Press that he wasn’t threatening violence against replacement workers. Do I want it to happen?” Absolutely not. Can it happen? He told the AP that yes, he believes it can happen.
He was elected president of the AFL-CIO and promised to revitalize unions’ declining membership rolls. He also pledged to make the labor force more appealing to workers who see unions as “only an old, grainy picture.”
Trumka spoke to hundreds of cheering delegates at the union’s annual convention 2009, “We need unionism that makes sense for the next generation of young men and women who either don’t have the funds to go to college”
He was also a prominent proponent of the 2009 health care debate, advocating for a government-run public insurance option.
He stated that “We need to be an labor movement which stands by our friends and punishes its enemies, and challenges those who can’t seem decide which side they are on.” In August 2009
Trumka stated that the anger generated by the GOP-controlled debate about public employee union rights in statehouses was overdue.
Trumka stated that he hoped the then-Gov. Scott Walker’s bill that would strip public employee unions from their bargaining power, which attracted thousands to Madison’s Capitol, attracted protestors. Trumka said he hoped then-Gov.
Trumka stated that Walker, regardless of whether he intended to or not started a national discussion about collective bargaining, “that this country sorely required to have.”
From his Democratic allies in Washington, he received many eulogies.
Nancy Pelosi, House Speaker, stated that Richard Trumka had dedicated his life to the labor movement. “Richard Trumka’s leadership was not limited to one movement. He fought with principled persistence to protect the dignity of all people.”
Democratic Senator Joe Manchin, West Virginia, said that he was heartbroken to hear about the passing of his friend.
“Rich’s story tells the American story. He was the grandson and son of Polish and Italian immigrants, and started his career in coal mining. He never forgot his roots. Manchin stated that he dedicated his entire career to fighting for America’s workers,” Manchin said in an interview.
