Labor On The Move: Saunders Elected AFSCME Secretary-Treasurer

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)

Lee Saunders (r) was elected Secretary-Treasurer of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) last Friday at the 1.6 million-member union’s 39th International Convention, held in Boston, MA. Saunders bested Danny Donohue in the contested election, receiving 652,660 votes to Donohue’s 648,356. "Danny Donohue and I are both deeply committed to our members and deeply devoted to this union," Saunders said. "Both of us waged very vigorous and energetic campaigns. I am very grateful for his words of support and look forward to working together to advance the interests of our members and the working people of this country.” Saunders joined OCSEA/AFSCME Local 11 in 1974 as a contract specialist at the Ohio Department of Employment Services. In 1978, he joined the AFSCME International staff as a labor economist and has served as assistant director of Research and Collective Bargaining Services, director of Community Action and deputy director of Organizing and Field Services. Before his election as Secretary-Treasurer, Saunders served as Executive Assistant to International President Gerald W. McEntee and was responsible for overseeing and coordinating the activities of the departments of Legislation, Political Action, Public Affairs, Retiree Programs, and Information Services.