Labor Movement Celebrates Extraordinary Life and Career of Bill Lucy

September 25, 2024

(Washington, D.C., Sept. 25, 2024)-Today, AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler and AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Fred Redmond joined other leaders of the labor movement to pay tribute to the extraordinary life and career of longtime labor, civil and human rights leader William "Bill" Lucy.

President Shuler and Secretary-Treasurer Redmond:

Our movement has lost an icon.

For more than six decades, Bill Lucy served as a brilliant strategist whose words instantly cut to the heart of an issue; a bridge across generations of our movement; and a leader in connecting the fights of working people all across the world.

At just 34 years old, he wrote four simple words-"I Am a Man"-that would change the course of history in Memphis, Tennessee, and helped all Americans see the humanity of Black sanitation workers in their struggle for dignity and respect on the job.

It was that same clarity and force that he brought to everything he did-from his historic leadership as secretary-treasurer of AFSCME to his co-founding of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU); to his groundbreaking work with unions internationlly, where he shaped policy not just for our federation, but for our labor movement as a whole.

Bill's brilliance was in realizing, far ahead of most, the extraordinary potential our movement has when we stand together in spite of our differences-no matter our background, race, age, gender or identity. He understood that oppression anywhere can lead to oppression everywhere. It is in that spirit that we will continue to lead and honor Bill every day, as we fight for dignity and respect for workers everywhere.

AFSCME President Lee Saunders:

Bill Lucy was a giant, one of the most accomplished and influential trade unionists ever - in any country, at any moment in history. He did as much as anyone to advance the dignity of all working people here in the United States and around the world. He was one of our greatest warriors ever for civil rights, labor rights and human rights.

From his leadership in the 1968 Memphis sanitation strike, to the founding of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, to his role in defeating and dismantling South African apartheid, he was a courageous trailblazer. On behalf of 1.4 million AFSCME members, I am so grateful for his visionary leadership from the moment he first joined our union nearly 70 years ago.

CBTU President, the Rev. Terry Melvin:

The CBTU family mourns the passing of our last founding leader and President Emeritus William "Bill" Lucy. Bill was not only a giant amongst giants in the national and international labor movement, but he was also a strong and fierce civil rights leader. Bill was a supportive mentor to many within the U.S. and global labor, social and civil rights movements. On a personal level, Bill was my "Father in the Movement," always supportive, corrective when needed, and all done with love and care. Known as the conscience of the movement, Bill will be truly missed by all whose life he ever touched.

Contact: Steve Smith, 202-637-5018