« Update: Tractor trailer rig accident shuts down I-84 | Today | North Smithfield family loses home in fire »

February 12, 2008

Ex-R.I. teacher to step down as head of national union

Edward J. McElroy, a past president of the Warwick and state teachers unions, announced today he will not seek re-election as leader of the national 1.4 million-member American Federation of Teachers. He plans to retire from it.

McElroy, who started as a Warwick social studies and English teacher, was elected president of Warwick Teachers Union in 1967. He became president of the Rhode Island Federation of Teachers and president of Rhode Island AFL-CIO at age 30. He held the two state positions until 1992 when he went to the national organization.

A news release said McElroy has spent 16 years as a national officer of the American Federation of Teachers, including a dozen years as secretary-treasurer. The organization said it's added 500,000-plus new union members during the 16 years.

"From my time as a newly minted junior high school teacher, I knew that being a part of the AFT would help me make a difference," McElroy said in the statement. "And it has -- from improving conditions for teaching and learning, to lobbying for issues important to AFT members and those they serve, to giving professionals a voice on the job, the AFT makes a difference."

McElroy will continue to lead the organization until its July convention in Chicago, where more than 2,000 delegates are expected to vote for a new president and several more positions.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

Posted by Mike McKinney  at 2:21 PM | Permalink

Comments

Post a comment

Please be civil. Vicious comments, personal attacks and profanity won't be published. Name and email are required; email address will not publish.

Name:

Email Address:

URL:
Remember Me? YesNo

Comments: (you may use HTML tags for style)