Chicago, IL
Over his lifetime of services to the men and women of the AFL-CIO, Vice President Robert Georgine has been an eloquent advocate for growth, progress and productive change throughout the labor movement.
A native of Chicago, he began his working life as an Ironworkers helper, later becoming an apprentice and member of Lathers Local 74 where he was quickly recognized for his ability and elected to leadership posts in the local. He was named as an Assistant to the President of the national union, and in 1970, at the age of 37, he was elected the General President of the Lathers. In 1971, he became secretary-treasurer of the AFL-CIO Building and Construction Trades Department, and in 1974 was elected as its president, a post he held with great distinction until his retirement in 2000. He was elected to the AFL-CIO Executive Council in 1985.
Beginning in 1990, Georgine began his service as chairman and chief executive officer of the Union Labor Life Insurance Company (ULLICO), and he continues to serve the labor movement in that capacity today.
He has brought the voice of working people to a wide range of presidential policy task forces and to many national and industry advisory groups. Decisively demonstrating the rightful role of the labor movement in every aspect of our society, he has also served as a chair of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond.
Under his outstanding leadership, the AFL-CIO Building and Construction Trades Department has led the way in providing vigorous encouragement and support to its affiliates in the areas of organizing, ground-breaking collective bargaining achievements, apprenticeship training and skills enhancement, job safety and stronger protections for health and pension benefits. Vice President Georgine has been a champion of the increased participation of women and people of color in the building and construction trades unions and throughout the labor movement.
He has also played a dynamic role in increasing international cooperation and solidarity with other building and construction trades unions throughout the world and in support of workers’ struggles wherever they are found.
On behalf of the working families of the unions of the AFL-CIO, the Executive Council commends Vice President Georgine in grateful appreciation for his years of brilliant and distinguished service to this council, and for his lifetime of personal and unflagging loyalty and dedication to the goals and hopes of working people everywhere.