Maria Elena Durazo Named Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor

First female to lead one of the largest labor federations in the country.

(Los Angeles, CA) – Delegates to the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO voted last night to name Maria Elena Durazo as the permanent Executive Secretary – Treasurer of the Federation. Durazo, the widow of former Executive Secretary – Treasurer Miguel Contreras, will assume her new post until 2010, when she will face re-election. Until today, she had been serving as Interim Executive Secretary -Treasurer of the Federation.

I have such a great amount of respect for the labor movement,” said Durazo. “It’s really a blessing for me, both professionally and personally to be elected as the new Executive Secretary-Treasurer.”

Prior to her appointment, Durazo served as President of the hotel workers union UNITE-HERE Local 11, a position she held from May of 1989 to March of this year. Over the years, she has restructured local 11 to become one of the most active unions in Southern California. With her leadership, Local 11 has not only become a vital force in the fight for working families, but is an example of all that can be accomplished with strong leadership and innovative thinking.

Make no mistake about it, the federation has selected one of the most dynamic and committed individuals of working families to lead the Los Angeles County labor movement,” said Larry Brown, National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 24 President. “I look forward to continuing to work side by side with Maria Elena in the fight for working families”.

The Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO is the chartered Central Labor Council of the AFL-CIO in Los Angeles County. Through its various departments, the Federation represents working men and women in forming coalitions with community partners as well as serving as the coordinating center for labor’s political activity. The federation represents 850,000 union members and 350 local unions in Los Angeles County.