AFSCME President Lee Saunders has expressed his condolences on the passing of Alexis Herman, who served as U.S. Secretary of Labor under President Bill Clinton. Herman holds the distinction of being the first African American appointed to this position.
Saunders remarked, “Alexis Herman was a trailblazer in every sense of the word, from her earliest days as a student overcoming segregation in Alabama to her historic tenure as the first African American to lead the U.S. Department of Labor.” He emphasized her steadfast belief in labor rights as fundamental human rights.
During her tenure as Secretary, Herman advocated for higher wages and improved working conditions for workers in the United States and abroad. Saunders noted that her legacy resonates with the values of public service championed by the 1.4 million members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME).
“Her leadership as Secretary of Labor opened the door to higher wages and safer working conditions for millions of people across America and around the world. Secretary Herman’s belief in public service as a fundamental good is shared by all 1.4 million members of the AFSCME family, and today we join the entire labor movement in mourning her loss,” Saunders stated.
