Throughout National Native American Heritage Month, the AFL-CIO will be profiling leaders and activists to spotlight the diverse contributions Native Americans have made to the labor movement and toward expanding the rights of working people. Today's profile is Sue Parton of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT).
Sue Parton is a proud member of the Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma. She rose from classroom teacher at the Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to president of the Federation of Indian Service Employees, representing thousands of federal workers across 24 states. From fighting unjust layoffs to negotiating national labor agreements, she has championed fairness, respect and dignity for employees serving Native communities.