Fred Redmond, Secretary-Treasurer of the AFL-CIO and International Vice President of the United Steelworkers, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss President Biden’s State of the Union address and his strong support of unions.
During his speech, Biden outlined a strong, aggressive agenda that strongly prioritized unions and working families, Redmond said. He emphasized Biden’s support of unions is not mere rhetoric — the President speaks from his gut and strongly believes collective bargaining provides a path for working people to enjoy the success of their labor.
Redmond also praised Biden for rallying NATO allies to unify in support of Ukraine and leverage crippling sanctions against Russia as punishment for the invasion. Biden is taking the right approach in unifying the world against a brutal dictator, he added.
At the end of the month, Redmond will retire from the USW after 49 years of service. He reminisced about his days as a Steelworker and said he is proud of what he accomplished as International Vice President. He noted the Union is in good hands under the leadership of International President Tom Conway.
Redmond also discussed the 29th Constitutional Convention of the AFL-CIO, which will take place this June. During the convention, he and AFL-CIO President Liz Schuler will seek election to full terms. Both Shuler and Redmond were appointed to their current positions following the unexpected passing of Richard Trumka in August 2021.
Listen to the entire episode to learn more about these topics: