Contact: Jess Kamm Broomell, 412-562-2444, jkamm@usw.org
(Pittsburgh) – United Steelworkers (USW) International Vice President Fredrick D. Redmond today announced that he will retire from the union on March 31, 2022.
Redmond will continue to serve as secretary-treasurer of the AFL-CIO alongside federation President Liz Shuler.
Redmond’s career with the Steelworkers began in 1973 when he went to work at Reynolds Metal Co. in Chicago. He rose through the ranks and served three terms as president of Local 3911 before joining the international’s staff in 1998, where he held various staff and leadership roles.
In 2006, Redmond was elected as international vice president for human affairs, where he oversaw the USW Civil and Human Rights Department and worked to advance racial and economic justice. He also oversaw the 50,000-member USW Health Care Workers Council.
“The USW and working people across the country owe a great deal of gratitude to Fred,” said International President Tom Conway. “He has a long history of service to our members and to our communities. He made our union stronger. He’s a tremendous leader, and I know he will continue to be a powerful voice for working people.”
Redmond served as a board member for a number of worker advocacy organizations, and since 2007, chaired the board of directors of the A. Philip Randolph Institute.
In April 2021, he was elected president of the Trade Union Confederation of the Americas, and in August of that same year, Redmond was elected secretary-treasurer of the AFL-CIO. He is the first African American to hold the second-highest office in the federation’s history.
Upon Redmond’s retirement in March 2022, the USW International Executive Board will fill his position in accordance with the USW constitution.
“The entire executive board, staff and members of the United Steelworkers wish Fred Redmond the very best,” said Conway. “He has always supported working people, and he has our support as he moves on to the next chapter of his career.”
The USW represents 850,000 workers employed in metals, mining, pulp and paper, rubber, chemicals, glass, auto supply and the energy-producing industries, along with a growing number of workers in health care, public sector, higher education, tech and service occupations.