Council 13 mourns passing of Bill Lucy
Council 13 joins its entire AFSCME family in mourning the loss of AFSCME Secretary-Treasurer Emeritus William “Bill” Lucy.
AFSCME International President Lee Saunders issued the following statement:
“Bill was a giant, one of the most accomplished and influential trade unionists ever — in any country, at any moment in history. He did as much as anyone to advance the dignity of all working people here in the United States and around the world. He was one of our greatest warriors ever for civil rights, labor rights and human rights.
From his leadership in the 1968 Memphis sanitation strike, to the founding of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, to his role in defeating and dismantling South African apartheid, he was a courageous trailblazer. We are all grateful for his visionary leadership from the moment he first joined our union nearly 70 years ago.
On a personal level, he was a mentor to me, someone I leaned on for counsel and wisdom. We all stand on his shoulders and will continue to be inspired by his example.“