Bill George, the often blustering and always entertaining President of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO, said Wednesday he is stepping down from the post in April.
Mr. George has been president of the statewide organization since June 1, 1990. His replacement will be chosen at the AFL-CIO state convention in Pittsburgh in mid April, at which time he will step down. The second ranking AFL-CIO officer is Secretary-Treasurer Rick Bloomingdale.
He started his career with the United Steelworkers in Aliquippa in 1960 and advanced through the ranks during the ensuing three decades until taking over as president.
 |
Mr. George is a regular, and frequently dominant, presence in the state Capitol and the AFL-CIO is a major financial contributor to primarily Democrat campaigns for office.
Mr. George has been a vociferous spokesman for the causes of organized labor.
On Tuesday, he joined with Jim Testerman, president of the Pennsylvania State Education Association, in announcing a labor alliance and working agreement between what are conceivably the state's two most powerful organized labor groups. At that time, Mr. George mentioned, offhandedly, that he would soon celebrate 50 years with the union.
Mr. George's announcement his retiring during a radio interview in mid-state caught most Capitol observers by surprise.
Jim Panyard is a reporter for the Pennsylvania Independent. He can be reached at Jim@PAIndependent.com
