Carolyn Forrest

Last updated

Carolyn Forrest (born July 29, 1932) is a former American labor union leader.

Born in Paris, Tennessee, Forrest moved to Michigan with her husband in 1953. She began working at the J. R. Winter Company in 1957, where she organized colleagues to join the United Auto Workers. In 1967, she began working for the union, becoming its first woman servicing representative. In 1977, she was appointed to the union's headquarters staff as an administrative assistant, and then in 1993 she won election as a vice-president of the union. [1] [2]

Forrest was a founder member of the Coalition of Labor Union Women. In 1995, she was elected as a vice-president of the AFL-CIO, succeeding Odessa Komer. She retired in 1998. [1] [3] [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Auto Workers</span> American labor union

The International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America, better known as the United Auto Workers (UAW), is an American labor union that represents workers in the United States and southern Ontario, Canada. It was founded as part of the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) in the 1930s and grew rapidly from 1936 to the 1950s. The union played a major role in the liberal wing of the Democratic Party under the leadership of Walter Reuther. It was known for gaining high wages and pensions for auto workers, but it was unable to unionize auto plants built by foreign-based car makers in the South after the 1970s, and it went into a steady decline in membership; reasons for this included increased automation, decreased use of labor, movements of manufacturing, and increased globalization.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Linda Chavez-Thompson</span>

Linda Chavez-Thompson is a second-generation Mexican-American and union leader. She was elected the executive vice-president of the AFL-CIO in 1995 and served until September 21, 2007. She was also a vice chair of the Democratic National Committee from 1997 to 2012 and served as a member of the board of trustees of United Way of America. She was the Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Texas in the 2010 election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">R. J. Thomas</span> American trade unionist

Roland Jay Thomas, also known as R. J. Thomas, was a left-wing leader of the United Auto Workers in the 1930s and 1940s. He grew up in eastern Ohio and attended the College of Wooster for two years. The need to help support his family caused him to leave college and go to work. In 1923, he moved to Detroit, where he worked in a number of automobile plants.

Owen Frederick Bieber was an American labor union activist. He was president of the United Auto Workers (UAW) from 1983 to 1995.

Olga M. Madar was the first woman to serve on the United Auto Workers (UAW) International Executive Board.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liz Shuler</span> American labor activist (born 1970)

Elizabeth H. Shuler is an American labor activist and, since August 5, 2021, President of the AFL–CIO. She is the first woman to be elected president of the federation. She was previously the first woman and the youngest person to hold the position of Secretary-Treasurer. She is the highest-ranking woman in the labor federation's history. From her election to the retirement of Arlene Holt Baker in 2013 was the first time that two of the three officer positions in the AFL–CIO were held by women; her election as president with Fred Redmond succeeding her as Secretary-Treasurer marked the first time two of the three positions were held by African Americans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lily Eskelsen García</span>

Lily Eskelsen García is an American teacher and labor union leader. As president of the 3 million-member National Education Association, she led the largest union in the United States from 2014 to 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mary Kay Henry</span> American labor leader (born 1958)

Mary Kay Henry is an American labor union activist who was elected International President of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) on May 8, 2010. She is the first woman to lead the union. While serving with the union in California, she helped pioneer SEIU's use of card check agreements, non-traditional collective bargaining agreements, comprehensive campaigns, and system-wide health care organizing strategies. Henry was included on Time's 100 Most Influential People of 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bob King (labor leader)</span> Trade union leader

Robert Thompson King is an American lawyer and labor union activist and leader. He was elected President of the United Auto Workers (UAW) on June 15, 2010. His term of office ended in June 2014, and King announced his retirement, being succeeded by Dennis Williams as head of the UAW.

Stephen Phillip Yokich was an American labor union activist who served as President of the United Auto Workers from 1994 to 2002.

Anne Elizabeth Urquhart is an Australian politician. She is a member of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) and has served as a Senator for Tasmania since 2011. She was a senior official with the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union (AMWU) prior to entering politics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chrysler Auto Strike</span> 1939 labor action, United States

The Chrysler Auto Strike began in October 1939 at the Dodge Main Plant in Detroit, Michigan, as a struggle between the Chrysler Auto manufacturer and The International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America, better known as the United Auto Workers (UAW).

Julie Kushner is an American politician and retired trade unionist. She worked for United Auto Workers, and was elected to the Connecticut State Senate in 2018.

Alice Holz was an American union organizer. She was involved in the foundation of the Office Employees International Union (OPEIU) and served as one of the union's first regional vice presidents.

Cindy Estrada is an American trade union leader, the former vice president of the United Auto Workers union, and an activist for women's rights and worker's rights. She served as UAW vice president from 2010 through her retirement in 2022, and was the first Latina to fill the role.

General Holiefield was an American labor union leader.

Gary Jones is a former American labor union leader, who was convicted of embezzlement.

Mary Elizabeth Bunn is a former American labor unionist.

Dennis D. Williams is a former American labor union leader, who was convicted of embezzlement.

Odessa Creekmore Komer was an American labor unionist.

References

  1. 1 2 "Carolyn Forrest Collection" (PDF). Walter P. Reuther Library. Wayne State University. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  2. "Owen Bieber re-elected". Detroit Labor News. July 16, 1992.
  3. Moody, Kim (June 9, 1998). "UAW Elections "Wake-up" Call From Below, Power Play On High". Labor Notes. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  4. "UAW is changing but slowly, woman's election to top post is overdue labor leaders say". Buffalo News. June 26, 1998.