Gundert, Fanning are new leaders at Southwest Washington CLC

The following is from the Southwest Washington Central Labor Council (SWWACLC):

VANCOUVER, Wash. (Jan. 4, 2023) — Delegates to the Southwest Washington Central Labor Council elected a new President and Executive Board member at the organization’s Dec. 7 meeting. They, along with returning Trustee Theresia Lloyd Seimer, will be sworn in at the CLC’s monthly meeting tonight (Jan. 4).

Evergreen Education Association member Shaun Gundert, who had been serving as the Labor Council’s Vice President, was elected President. Gundert is a high school science teacher and grew up in Vancouver. They believe in solidarity and strong unions to fight for working families throughout Southwest Washington and beyond, and hope to be able to help build the organizing capacity of the labor council in the President’s role.

UA 290 member Kevin Fanning was elected to a position on the Labor Council’s Executive Board.  A former firefighter, Fanning has been working in the building trades since 1998 and currently serves as his union’s Bylaws chair and on its negotiating committee. As an Executive Board member he looks forward to continuing to grow the bonds of brotherhood and sisterhood within the council.

Gundert and Fanning will fill the remainder of their offices’ terms until new elections are held in January 2024. A special election will be held in February 2023 for the office of Vice President, which is currently vacant. Nominations for the office will be taken at the Labor Council’s Jan. 4 and Feb. 1 meetings beginning at 6 p.m. at a new location, the OFNHP Vancouver Office at 316 SE 123rd Ave. in Vancouver, or online via Zoom (contact info@swwaclc.org for the link.)

The Southwest Washington Central Labor Council brings Southwest Washington unions from many industries together to take action on local and statewide issues. Its jurisdiction is Clark, Skamania and West Klickitat counties. The SWWACLC is committed to all the hard-working people of labor — not just in Southwest Washington, but everywhere — and is dedicated to achieving the highest standards of living, good working conditions, and family wage jobs for all. Learn more at swwaclc.org.