Sara Dorner named Rockford United Labor's first woman president in 66-year history

ROCKFORD — Rockford United Labor, AFL-CIO — representing 20,000 union members across the Rockford region — swore in its first woman president Tuesday.

Sara Dorner, a Rockford native and labor representative for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31, was elected last year to serve a two-year term.

Dorner will be the first woman in the organization's 66-year history to serve as president.

Dorner is active in Women's March Rockford and serves as a board member for United Way of Rock River Valley. She is labor chair for the Winnebago County Democrats Executive Board.

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In 2018, she was chosen as one of the Rockford Register Star's "People to Watch" and in 2019 she was named one of Rockford's 40 leaders under 40.

For the past two years, Dorner has served as vice president of Rockford United Labor.

Before returning to Rockford in 2014, she was a labor relations specialist for the Minnesota Nurses Association. 

Rockford United Labor is one of 500 national central labor committees of the AFL-CIO. The organization is comprised of almost all labor unions in the Rockford area and is known for hosting the city’s annual Labor Day parade.   

“As we navigate the pandemic and complicated economic issues in our state and city, the strength of labor unions is more critical than ever before,” Dorner said in a news release. “Workers are demanding a voice on the job, living wages and dignity.

"The RUL executive board, made up of a diverse group of union leaders, is ready to build our presence and support for organized labor in the Rockford area.”

Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflected updated membership information from Rockford United Labor.  

Corina Curry: ccurry@rrstar.com; @corinacurry