Milwaukee County Labor Council AFL-CIO

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Who We Are

MCLC leaders and members regularly meet with elected officials to share issues and concerns. In the spring of 2006, it was US Rep. Gwen Moore (back) with the MCLC's top officers.

The Milwaukee County Labor Council (MCLC) combines the organizing and community power of some 47,000 dues-paying members of more than 135 Milwaukee area locals and parent unions, along with thousands more through its partnerships and alliances.

Created in the 1950s by the merger now known as the AFL-CIO (American Federation of Labor - Congress of Industrial Organizations), the Milwaukee council also contains as full-paying partners the Milwaukee members of other federations such as Change to Win. Unions outside these federations are active supporters as are community, retiree and religious groups. So are non-union participants through such AFL-CIO initiatives as Working America. The breadth of our membership recognizes the importance of solidarity for all workers. The MCLC takes a leading role in charities, legislative work, politics and social action. Both our members and partnerships reflect that diversity and reach.

Our Leaders

The leaders of the MCLC come right out of the working community. Each - secretary-treasurer, president and vice-president - came up through the ranks and front lines in their workforces before being nominated by their fellow workers for official roles, usually first within their locals and then on to four-year leadership positions at the MCLC. The nomination process is democracy in action. Delegates chosen by their own locals, lodges and councils cast votes representing the size of their membership. The same process applies to resolutions, political recommendations and other actions of the delegates, who meet monthly.

Officers

Sheila Cochran
Chief Operating Officer/Secretary-Treasurer
United Auto Workers Local 438
sheila@milwaukeelabor.org

Willie D. Ellis
President
International Union of Operating Engineers Local I39
willie@milwaukeelabor.org

Annie Wacker
Vice-President
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local I954
annie@milwaukeelabor.org

Executive Board