Marty Warren

Fred Redmond took office as International Vice President (Human Affairs) on March 1, 2006. He was re-elected by acclamation in 2009, 2013 and again in 2017. Redmond made history when on Aug. 20, 2021, he was elected to the position of secretary-treasurer of the AFL-CIO, the nation's largest labor organization. He is the first African American to hold this office in the history of the labor federation. He had previously served on the federation’s Executive Council since 2008.

Redmond has been a USW member since 1973 when he went to work at Reynolds Metals Co. He became active in Local 3911 almost immediately, serving as shop steward, grievance committee member and chairman, and vice president. He served three terms as local president.

In 1996, Redmond joined the International staff, working with District 7 locals in the Chicago area. In 1998, he went to work for the International in Pittsburgh, where he developed and conducted training programs for the union’s Membership Development Department. He also reported to the president’s office, where he was assigned to coordinate special projects, including amalgamations and assisting local unions in developing by-laws.

In 2002, Redmond was named Assistant Director of District 7, where he served until his election as International Vice President for Human Affairs in 2005.

Redmond serves as chairman of the USW’s Container Industry Conference and coordinates bargaining for the USW health care, pharmaceuticals, public employees and shipbuilding sectors.

As Vice President for Human Affairs, Redmond oversees the union’s Civil and Human Rights Department and has worked with USW allies across the country to respond to right-wing attacks on voting rights and to combat economic inequality. He also serves as advisor of the union’s Next Generation program, which works to develop new leaders.

In 2021, Redmond was elected as president of the Trade Union Confederation of the Americas (TUCA).

Redmond has served on the board of directors of Working America, the TransAfrica Forum, the National Labor College, the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU), and the Interfaith Workers for Justice. Since 2008, Redmond has served on the AFL-CIO Executive Council and Chairman of A. Philip Randolph Institute (APRI). In 2016, Redmond was appointed to Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf’s African-American Advisory Committee.