AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Richard Trumka formally announced his candidacy to succeed John Sweeney as President of the AFL-CIO.  Trumka received a formal endorsement of the Building and Construction Trades Department.

Today's event also featured remarks by Trumka's running mates - Arlene Holt-Baker, who is a candidate for AFL-CIO Executive Vice President; and Liz Shuler, who is vying to succeed Trumka as Secretary-Treasurer.  Ms. Shuler is currently the Assistant to International President Ed Hill at the IBEW.

An enthusiastic crowd - a large portion of which were rank and file and staff from several building trades unions - heard Mr. Trumka promise to united the labor movement and to return it to its roots as an aggressive agent for social change and economic opportunity for all workers.

The election of new officers for the AFL-CIO will occur at the federation's convention in September of this year.