April 10, 2007

Contact: Tim Burga
614.565.2292 | tburga@ohaflcio.com

Longest Serving President of State Labor Federation to Retire

William Burga, President of the Ohio AFL-CIO and the longest serving president of the state labor federation, will retire at the organization’s Executive Board meeting on April 27, 2007 it was announced today.

The Executive Board will elect Mr. Burga’s successor and it appears that Joseph Rugola, Executive Director of the Ohio Association of Public School Employees (OAPSE/AFSCME), has the support of the 47 member Board.

Mr. Burga has led the Ohio labor movement since October 1993 with several notable achievements, capped with the election in November 2006 of public officials who are more supportive of working families.

Accomplishments during Mr. Burga’s leadership term included:

• Expanded the Ohio AFL-CIO Executive Board for greater diversity.
• Led the successful election victory on State Issue 2 in 1997, repealing workers’ compensation benefit cuts.
• Created a coalition that led to the agreement with drug companies to develop a statewide discount drug program – “Ohio’s Best Rx.”
• Established a Political Task Force creating a new culture and program for labor political action.
• Re-structured Ohio’s labor movement creating Area Labor Federations and strategic planning procedures.
• Established the “Ohio Health Care Trust” which provides health care benefits for union members and employers at a lower cost.
• Led a statewide coalition to establish and pass a constitutional amendment to increase the state minimum wage.

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