General President Williams' Bio
JAMES A. WILLIAMS
General President
James A. Williams began his apprenticeship with Glaziers, Architectural Metal and Glass Workers Local Union 252, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, after graduating from Northeast Catholic High School in 1968. In 1969 he enlisted in the Army, serving as an Infantryman in Vietnam. He was awarded two Bronze Stars, the Army Accommodation Medal, and an Air Medal. Returning home in 1971, he completed his apprenticeship and worked as a journeyman glazier. In 1975 he was elected president and business manager of Local Union 252. In these capacities he also served as co-chairman of their Pension, Annuity, Health & Welfare and Vacation Funds.
In August of 1994 he was elected the allied region general vice president of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades – a labor organization with 140,000 construction industry members in the United States and Canada. He held this position until September 1995, when he was appointed general secretary-treasurer elect of the IUPAT. In August 1999 he was elected general secretary-treasurer. As general secretary-treasurer, he held the position of trustee on several pension funds, including the IUPAT Industry Pension Fund, the IUPAT Local Union and District Council Pension Fund and the IUPAT General Officers, Staff and Employees Retirement and Pension Fund. Currently, he serves as a member of the Board of Trustees of Temple University, and is a board member of the Private Industry Council of Philadelphia.
In April 2003, Mr. Williams was unanimously elected general president by the union’s General Executive Board. That same year, he was appointed to the AFLCIO’s Executive Council where he continues to serve on the finance, human rights and political committees. In 2004, he was unanimously reelected to the office of general president and now also serves on the AFL-CIO Committee.
The general president is well respected by union and legislative leaders from coast to coast for his strong political acumen. He attributes his keen sense of politics to his youth when he was a regular participant in Philadelphia ward politics.
Mr. Williams repeatedly serves as a sounding board for candidates running for office, be it for city council or the presidency.
A traditional family man, he has been married for over 30 years to his wife, Gerrie. They have two daughters, two sons and three grandchildren.