James A. Williams Jr. (born 1977 or 1978) is an American labor union leader.
Biography edit
Williams grew up in Philadelphia and followed his father in becoming a glazier. In 1998, he joined the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades. His father, James Williams, was appointed as president of the union in 2003, and selected Jimmy as his assistant. He also became the union's organizing coordinator for the eastern region.[1][2]
In 2011, Williams was appointed as the union's organizing director, and then in 2014 as general vice president at large.[1][3]
In 2021, Williams was elected as president of the union. Aged 43, he was its youngest ever president, and the youngest president of any AFL-CIO affiliate at the time.[4]
He was also elected as a vice-president of the AFL-CIO. As president, he stated that he would focus on organizing workers, particularly immigrants and workers in the American South, and lobby for the passage of the Protecting the Right to Organize Act.[1]
References edit
- ^ a b c Isser, Mindy (September 8, 2021). "Building Trades Leader: Any Politician Who Doesn't Back the PRO Act Shouldn't Get Labor's Support". In These Times. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
- ^ "James A. Williams Jr. – General President". IUPAT. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
- ^ "James A. Williams Jr. – General President". IUPAT. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
- ^ "IUPAT Announces New Executive Board Members". US Glass News Network. September 8, 2021. Retrieved 29 July 2023.