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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of AFL-CIO
4President Richard "Rich" Louis Trumka, who passed away on
5August 5, 2021; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Rich Trumka was born to Frank and Eola Bertugli
7Trumka in Nemacolin, Pennsylvania on July 24, 1949; he
8attended college and law school; and
 
9    WHEREAS, A third generation coal miner, Rich Trumka spent
10his career in the labor movement; in 1982 at the age of 33, he
11was elected the youngest president of the United Mine Workers
12of America; he served as the secretary-treasurer of the
13AFL-CIO for over a decade and was elected president of the
14organization in 2009; he will especially be remembered as a
15relentless champion of workers' rights, workplace safety,
16worker-centered trade, democracy, and much more; during the
172008 election, he advocated for then presidential candidate
18Barack Obama to AFL-CIO members who were hesitant to vote for
19an African American; after strongly criticizing labor's lack
20of involvement in past trade negotiations, his support of the
21U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement was key to securing enough
22Democratic votes to pass the Trump-era trade deal; under his
23leadership, the federation focused its resources on fighting

 

 

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1for the repeal of the so-called "Cadillac tax" on expensive
2health care plans, raising the federal minimum wage to $15 an
3hour, and advocating for legislation to broadly expand
4collective bargaining rights; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Rich Trumka helped usher a new generation of
6leaders through his service on the boards of the National
7Labor College, the AFL-CIO's Solidarity Center, and the
8Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights; he served on
9the boards of the Economic Policy Institute and the Housing
10Investment Trust; in addition, he served as president emeritus
11of the United Mine Workers of America; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Rich Trumka approached each day with a fierce
13passion to fight for others; when taking respite, he could be
14found in the great outdoors, hunting, fishing, or camping with
15his family or with fellow members of the Union Sportsman
16Alliance; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Rich Trumka was preceded in death by his parents;
18his nephew, Bryan Szallar; his great-nephew, Bronson Szallar;
19his father-in-law and mother-in-law, John and Katherine
20Vidovich; and his brothers-in-law, John Vidovich and David
21Vidovich; and
 
22    WHEREAS, Rich Trumka is survived by his wife, Barbara; his

 

 

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1son, Rich (Jessica) Trumka Jr.; his sister, Francis (Alex)
2Szallar; his brother-in-law, Daniel Vidovich; his
3sisters-in-law, Nella and Nancy; his three grandchildren, Trey
4and Taylor Trumka and Ki Vidovich; his nieces and nephews; and
5his many other cousins; therefore, be it
 
6    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
7HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
8we mourn the passing of AFL-CIO President Richard "Rich" Louis
9Trumka and extend our sincere condolences to his family,
10friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further
 
11    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
12presented to the family of Richard Trumka as an expression of
13our deepest sympathy.