The Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program extends its congratulations to April Verrett and colleagues on Verrett’s election as president of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). The first Black woman to lead the union in its 103-year history, Verrett has been at the forefront of the labor movement for two decades, serving most recently as SEIU’s secretary-treasurer alongside President Mary Kay Henry, who sits on the advisory board of the Aspen Business Roundtable on Organized Labor.

“The work of the Economic Opportunities Program seeks to advance strategies, policies, and ideas to help low- and moderate-income people thrive in a changing economy, and we cannot imagine a leader who is better suited to partner with us in this endeavor,” said Maureen Conway, vice president of the Aspen Institute and executive director of the Economic Opportunities Program. “In word and deed, April personifies the seismic shift underway in today’s labor movement, and the opportunity to leverage these changes for the benefit of workers everywhere.”

We had the privilege of hosting Verrett for the launch event of our Statement on Good Jobs, and she put into words the meaning of this moment:

“What defining a good job means for us in the labor movement is that workers have an opportunity to realize and utilize their own power, to be self-determinative as workers, to make sure they have some voice and a seat at the table, to help determine and drive for themselves what’s a good job in this economy.”

As the SEIU enters a new era of leadership, we thank Mary Kay Henry for her exceptional guidance and stewardship, overseeing one of the most critical periods of growth and achievement in SEIU history, and we have full confidence in Verrett’s ability to carry this torch into the union’s next chapter. We look forward to her continued partnership and progress in the months and years to come.

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The Economic Opportunities Program advances strategies, policies, and ideas to help low- and moderate-income people thrive in a changing economy. Follow us on social media and join our mailing list to stay up-to-date on publications, blog posts, events, and other announcements.