Council 13 represents PA at AFSCME International Convention in Philly

Pennsylvania’s delegation at the AFSCME 45th International Convention was there in full force as District Councils 33 and 47, District 1199C NUHHCE, and Council 13 united on their home turf.

As the AFSCME family began pouring into Philadelphia on July 10, 2022, a labor legend and Philadelphia native who changed the movement forever, Gerald W. McEntee, died at age 87.

Jerry McEntee led the organizing drive that culminated with the foundation of AFSCME Council 13, and he served as its first Executive Director before going on to lead as AFSCME International President. Former Council 13 Executive Director David Fillman opened the convention with a moving tribute to McEntee.

Council 13’s current Executive Director David Henderson issued the following statement on McEntee’s passing: Council 13 mourns loss of PA labor pioneer Jerry McEntee

Convention attendees honored McEntee’s memory and carried on with the business of their union just as Jerry would have wanted.

Highlights of the convention included remarks from AFSCME President Lee Saunders, AFSCME Secretary-Treasurer Elissa McBride, Pennsylvania Attorney General and gubernatorial candidate Josh Shapiro, Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler, and U.S. Labor Secretary Marty Walsh, as well as appreciating AFSCME’s front-line heroes, recognizing the contributions of AFSCME Retirees, and honoring AFSCME veterans.

Convention participants also took their strength and energy to the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art to rally for their fellow AFSCME members who have been denied a fair contract for nearly two years.

To conclude the convention, AFSCME bid farewell to two retiring International Vice Presidents who have left lasting legacies in their respective states and this union’s International Executive Board: Pennsylvania’s own Dave Fillman, and Iowa Council 61’s former president Danny Homan.

To fill Dave Fillman’s seat on the International Executive Board, District Council 88 Director Tom Tosti was elected unanimously by the Pennsylvania Caucus to be the state’s next International Vice President.

As the 45th International Convention concluded, President Saunders announced that the 46th International Convention in 2024 will be held in Chicago, Illinois, and Council 13 will be there!

You can find full coverage of the AFSCME 45th International Convention at convention.afscme.org.