Statement by AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka on the passing of Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers (BCTGM) President David B. Durkee:
The entire labor movement is saddened by the death of Dave Durkee. We have lost a brother, a friend and a fierce defender of working families. Dave spent his life fighting for workers’ rights and advocating for a fair and just society. His dedication to our movement and our country leaves a lasting legacy.
Dave was a trade unionist through and through, from his first days as a BCTGM member working at a bakery in Indiana. He rose to the highest ranks of his union and became a voice of passion and conviction on the AFL-CIO Executive Council.
Dave’s leadership on trade was particularly inspiring, as he took on the world’s biggest corporations in a fight to ensure BCTGM members and all working people were treated with dignity and respect.
It is a sad day for those of us who had the privilege of knowing Dave. We mourn his passing and will continue to fight like hell for the values he held dear.
Contact: Gonzalo Salvador (202) 637-5018