AFSCME International President Lee Saunders and International Secretary-Treasurer Elissa McBride will be stepping down from their respective offices following the AFSCME International Convention in August.
CSEA is AFSCME’s largest affiliate. CSEA President Mary E. Sullivan and Metropolitan Region President Lester Crockett serve as AFSCME International Vice Presidents.
Saunders, who was initially elected as our international union’s president in 2012, will be retiring after more than 50 years in the labor movement, most of which has been with AFSCME.
Under Saunders’ leadership, AFSCME launched the AFSCME Strong program that builds power through internal and external organizing and recognizes the individual contributions AFSCME members make to serving and strengthening our communities.
“It has been the honor of my life to serve as president of our great union,” said Saunders in a statement to AFSCME leaders. “Being part of the AFSCME family, standing shoulder to shoulder with you, has given me strength, purpose, and a deep faith in the future. The challenges ahead are real, and the fights are big, but worker power does not fade. It grows when we stand together, organize, and refuse to back down.”
McBride, who has served as AFSCME International Secretary-Treasurer since 2017, is credited with helping lead numerous member organizing and education programs, including the Volunteer Member Organizer program and the AFSCME Leadership Academy. She plans to continue her work in the labor movement.
“I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to partner with President Saunders and all of you to strengthen and grow our union,” said McBride. “Our union has a history of fighting and winning against tough odds, and we will continue to do that this year and beyond. I am profoundly inspired by the strength, solidarity, and passion for public service demonstrated each day by AFSCME members. I know that you and all of our current and future AFSCME leaders will step up to the challenges and opportunities ahead of us.”