Arlene Holt Baker facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Arlene Holt Baker
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Arlene Holt Baker speaking at a big meeting for workers in 2009.
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| Born | 1951 |
| Occupation | Union organizer, Labor activist |
| Known for | Executive Vice President, AFL-CIO |
Arlene Holt Baker (born 1951) is an American leader who has worked to help people in unions. She was a staff assistant with the AFL-CIO starting in 1995. In 2007, she was chosen to be the executive vice-president of this large group of unions and was re-elected in 2009. She was the first African American person to hold such a high position in the AFL-CIO.
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Early Life and Starting Her Union Work
Arlene Holt Baker was born in 1951 in Fort Worth, Texas. Her father worked as a laborer, and her mother worked in people's homes. Arlene was one of seven children in her family.
In the late 1980s, Arlene Holt Baker became an organizer for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). This union helps people who work for the government, like teachers or city workers. She started by helping public workers in California join the union. Later, she became a leader who helped with important negotiations for workers' pay and benefits. She also helped the union with its political activities in California.
Working at the AFL-CIO
In 1995, John Sweeney became the president of the AFL-CIO. This is a very large organization that brings many different unions together. Linda Chavez-Thompson, who was elected executive vice-president, hired Arlene Holt Baker to be her assistant.
Helping Workers and Campaigns
Arlene Holt Baker took on many important tasks. In 1998, she helped the AFL-CIO win against a proposed law in California called Proposition 226. This law would have made it harder for unions to use money for political purposes. Her success in this campaign was a big deal.
Because of her good work, Arlene Holt Baker became an executive assistant to AFL-CIO president John Sweeney in 1999. One of her main jobs was to lead the AFL-CIO's Voice@Work campaign. This project helped build support in communities for workers who wanted to form or join unions.
Leading Political Efforts
Arlene Holt Baker often led the AFL-CIO's political efforts. In the year 2000, she helped a group of unions register voters and encourage supporters in Pennsylvania. This state was very important for unions in the election. Many people said that the unions' efforts helped the Democratic candidate win Pennsylvania. She led similar efforts again in 2002, helping Ed Rendell win the election for governor.
Her political work continued in 2003. She became president of the Working America Alliance and later of Voices For Working Families (VFWF). These groups helped raise money to support workers' causes. Her work for Voices for Working Families was very successful.
In 2005, John Sweeney chose Arlene Holt Baker to manage his campaign when he ran for re-election as president of the AFL-CIO. He won that election.
Helping After Hurricane Katrina
In 2005 and 2006, Arlene Holt Baker led the AFL-CIO's efforts to help people after Hurricane Katrina. This terrible storm hit Louisiana and Mississippi. She helped organize disaster relief and later oversaw projects to rebuild the area.
Becoming Executive Vice President
On September 11, 2007, Linda Chavez-Thompson announced she would retire from her role as executive vice-president. AFL-CIO President John Sweeney quickly said he wanted Arlene Holt Baker to take her place. Ten days later, the AFL-CIO Executive Council, which is a group of leaders, voted to approve Arlene Holt Baker as executive vice-president. She was the first African American person to hold this high position in the AFL-CIO. Her first term ended in 2009.
Some people who care about how unions are run had questions about how quickly this decision was made. However, Arlene Holt Baker was re-elected to the position of executive vice president for a full four-year term in September 2009. In 2013, Tefere Gebre took over her role.
Her Political Involvement
Arlene Holt Baker has been active in the Democratic Party for most of her adult life. She was chosen as a delegate from California to the 1988 Democratic National Convention, where she supported Michael Dukakis.
She rose to a high position within the Democratic Party of California, becoming the state party's First Vice Chairwoman. She left this role in 1995 when she started her job with the AFL-CIO.
