Who's Who
The City & State 2025 Who’s Who in Labor
A look at the Pennsylvanians who champion a workforce powering health care, infrastructure, education and other critical sectors.
From left to right: Philip Ameris, Bernie Hall & Deborah Willig Jim Manion; Steve Dietz; Provided
They train the next generation of commonwealth plumbers and pipefitters, ensure a stable workforce for the state’s evolving energy and infrastructure needs, advocate for education and healthcare workers – and fight for jobs that pay well and sustain families across myriad sectors. Take a look at who’s who in the world of Pennsylvania labor – a dedicated group of educators and advocates who power the Keystone State’s key industries.
Acker, Mike
At Triad Strategies, labor clients count on Mike Acker for effective lobbying on issues such as contractor misclassification, crane safety and highway funding. A partner in the government relations firm, he honed his expertise serving in numerous positions with the state Labor and Industry Department, where he served under three governors. He holds degrees from the University of Pennsylvania and Temple University, and is a past president of the National Association of Government Labor Officials.
Acree, Jason
Championing electrical line workers across Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland’s Eastern Shore is Jason Acree, the president of IBEW Local 126. He began as a journeyman lineman apprentice in the late 1990s and assumed his current role in 2011, promoting a 100% union-serviced market for residential and commercial electrical construction projects. In addition to serving as the local’s referral agent, he chairs its Brotherhood Fund Committee and is a permanent member of the executive board.
Ameris, Philip
Last month saw Philip Ameris, the Pennsylvania Laborers District Council’s longtime president and business manager, get promoted to vice president and Mid-Atlantic regional manager for the Laborers’ International Union of North America, a 530,000-member organization, at its annual leadership conference. His strength and tenacity have long been on display both in his roles as a longtime labor leader in Pittsburgh and as a taekwondo grandmaster.
Bair, Robert
Building the new data centers sprouting across Pennsylvania is at the top of the agenda for Robert Bair, the longtime president of PA State Building Trades. A four-decade member and longtime leader of IBEW Local 143, he is prioritizing energy policy and economic development on behalf of his construction-industry membership. He also leads the PA State Electrical Workers and the Eastern PA Business Managers Association, and is active with the state apprenticeship council and its Workforce Development Board.
Ball, Jordan
For more than a decade, Jordan Ball has advised candidates, elected officials and organizations on blue-collar issues and messaging – including at Long Nyquist, where he currently works as a government affairs associate. Most recently, his advocacy has focused on higher Medicaid reimbursement rates for Pennsylvania home care workers and, alongside IBEW Local 459, building a base of bipartisan support for an energy agenda. During his decade as a U.S. Senate staffer, he worked closely with Pennsylvania’s labor leaders to advocate for coal miners, steelworkers and investment in infrastructure.
Bauder, Daniel
Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO President Daniel P. Bauder has a long history of leadership with the storied organization, which was formed 70 years ago. He served as its campaign manager for nearly a decade before becoming its fourth president in 2022. A third-generation union member and lifelong activist, he represents more than 100 union locals in the Philadelphia area. He is also active with the United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey, the Welcoming Center and the Urban Affairs Coalition.
Bickford, Tyler
English Professor Tyler Bickford is president of the University of Pittsburgh’s fledgling faculty union, which he first helped organize over a decade ago. A scholar of children’s literature, he leads one of the United Steelworkers’ newest unions – certified in 2021 – and assumed his current role in 2024, representing full- and part-time faculty across the university’s campuses. He previously served as chair of the union’s bargaining committee, helping secure its first contract, also in 2024.
Boyer, Ryan
Over three years at the helm of the Philadelphia Building & Construction Trades Council, Ryan Boyer has become arguably the most influential labor leader on the city’s and state’s political landscape, helping Cherelle Parker become Philadelphia mayor and asserting his support for Gov. Josh Shapiro as challengers emerge for next year’s election. This month, Boyer became vice president at large for the Laborers’ International Union of North America, which represents a half-million workers throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Bush, Bryan J.
A visible presence at union conventions and apprenticeship worksites alike, Bryan Bush serves as president and business manager of Sheet Metal Workers Local 19, which has represented Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware laborers since the 1880s. His own family has been union strong for nearly as long, and he is a second-generation Local 19 member, having begun his career in 1989 and serving as a journeyman, foreman and shop steward – and, more recently, president of the Sheet Metal Workers Pennsylvania State Council.
Catanese, Steve
As president of SEIU Local 668, Steve Catanese represents nearly 20,000 workers across the commonwealth. He was the union’s chief negotiator for its last two state contracts, securing new protections for more than 10,000 workers, and led a series of recent strikes during contentious negotiations. Notably, he recently negotiated a precedent-setting generative AI agreement on behalf of state workers; he is now leading efforts to unionize thousands of Penn State faculty members.
Centeno, Joe
Attorney Joseph Centeno co-chairs the Labor, Employment, Benefits and Immigration Section at Buchanan, Ingersoll & Rooney, where he is executive managing shareholder. In addition to supervising a 70-lawyer practice, he represents management in employee claims ranging from discrimination and harassment to human resources policies, whistleblowing and regulatory issues. He has also served on the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations and as president of both the Asian American Bar Association of the Delaware Valley and the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association.
Chapin, Aaron
Pennsylvania State Education Association President Aaron Chapin has three decades of experience advocating for his colleagues and students at Pennsylvania public schools, beginning as a Stroudsburg Area Middle School teacher. His longtime labor advocacy includes serving in numerous roles for the Stroudsburg Area Education Association and in PSEA’s Northeastern Region and, prior to his current post, as PSEA vice president. Recently reelected to his second term, he has prioritized teacher recruitment and equitable funding for all Pennsylvania’s public schools.
Cherry, Rob
Last year, Robert Cherry was appointed by the U.S. Department of Labor to chair its Advisory Committee on Apprenticeship, recognizing his stature in workforce development and labor policy. Currently the CEO of Partner4Work, he previously held a series of leadership roles at the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development and at Employ Milwaukee, where he launched a career preparedness program for Milwaukee youth. He is a trustee of the U.S. Conference of Mayors Workforce Development Council.
Cooper, Robin
Robin Cooper is the first woman and first Black person to lead the Commonwealth Association of School Administrators’ Local 502, a division of the Teamsters, which represents some 1,000 principals and other education professionals with the School District of Philadelphia. She has also held leadership roles with the Teamsters National Black Caucus, including chairing its Eastern Region, and served as president of the Philadelphia and Vicinity Black Caucus. Most recently, she has crusaded to maintain funding for SDP programming amid the threat of federal budget cuts.
Connors, Ben
As CEO of the General Building Contractors Association since 2014, Ben Connors has cultivated workforce partnerships and grown opportunities for union contractors across the Philadelphia region. He is also a trustee for union benefit and training funds with assets totaling over $11 billion. The Philadelphia native, who holds a law degree from Rutgers University, currently serves as vice chair of the executive leadership committee for the board of the Associated General Contractors of America and is a founding board member of Everybody Builds.
Daquelente, Dave
For nearly a decade, Dave Daquelente has championed the Allegheny region’s trade professionals – including at the Master Builders’ Association of Western Pennsylvania, where he has served as executive director since 2019. He guides labor relations, political advocacy, education and workforce development for one of the Associated General Contractors of America’s founding chapters, representing some 300 construction industry members. A Penn State graduate, he previously directed the Ironworker Employers Association of Western Pennsylvania.
Di Valerio, Sonia
In 2024, Sonia Di Valerio joined the Contractors Association of Eastern Pennsylvania as its executive director. Since then, she has been appointed as a trustee to the pension and other benefits funds of the Laborers’ District Council, the Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters and the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 542. A Temple University-trained attorney, she previously worked as a lawyer focusing on claims and litigation.
Diehl, Alison
At the Pennsylvania College of Technology, Alison Diehl serves as vice president for workforce development, a non-degree applied technology initiative that serves some 5,000 participants annually. Under her purview is workforce programming for clean energy, plastics, apprenticeships, industrial training and health sciences. She joined the college in 2009 and previously cultivated the sustainability workforce pipeline as director of the college’s Clean Energy Center.
Direnna, Jesse
At the helm of International Union of Operating Engineers Local 66 is Jesse Direnna, who, as business manager, leads the interests of a union serving 33 counties across Western Pennsylvania and three in Ohio. Under his purview are more than 7,000 members who provide services to contractors, municipalities and private companies. He also oversees the locals’ apprenticeship program and a political action initiative aimed at registering more union voters and championing labor’s interests in the Pennsylvania and Ohio statehouses, as well as nationally.
Eagen, Todd
A partner at Welby Stoltenberg Cimballa & Cook in Scranton, Todd Eagen is an experienced union attorney representing 20,000 laborers across Pennsylvania in collective bargaining, arbitration, and before state and national labor relations boards. He has represented numerous unions in his 25-year career, including the Pennsylvania State Troopers Association, the Pennsylvania State Corrections Officers Association, the Teamsters and the United Food & Commercial Workers. He is one of seven elected members from Pennsylvania to the Democratic National Committee and co-chairs the Pennsylvania Democratic Party Lawyers Committee.
Emery, Dan
Lifelong union member Dan Emery brings a deep knowledge of labor to his role as regional sales manager at the Union Labor Life Insurance Company, America’s only labor-owned insurance and investment company. He manages health and welfare funds for numerous labor unions in Pennsylvania and throughout the Northeast and Chicago. He joined the century-old outfit in 2000 and also specializes in helping clients successfully manage Taft-Hartley matters.
Ferritto, Angela
The first woman to head the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO, Angela Ferritto was unanimously reelected in 2024 to continue in her role; she also serves as president of Union Energy. In addition, she served on Gov. Josh Shapiro’s transition leadership board and was appointed by his predecessor, Gov. Tom Wolf, to serve on the Unemployment Compensation Advisory Board. She is also active with the Pennsylvania Workforce Development Board, the Penn State Labor School Advisory Board and the PA Commission on Education & Economic Competitiveness.
Fox, Lynne
Lynne Fox is the first woman to chair the board of Amalgamated Bank, a century-old institution created to service a labor clientele. She joined the board 25 years ago, steering a bank with a socially responsible mission and overseeing Amalgamated’s healthcare and retirement funds and its life insurance company. She is also the international president of Workers United, the longtime manager of the Philadelphia Joint Board, a vice president on the Philadelphia AFL-CIO Council and president of the Philadelphia Jewish Labor Committee.
Gardler, James
James Gardler, who joined the Communications Workers of America in 1992, currently heads its Local 13000, which represents nearly 5,000 workers in diverse media and related industries across Pennsylvania. He also co-chairs its political action committee and oversees its Community Services Fund. His two decades of union leadership include serving as secretary-treasurer of the Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO and as a vice president on the Executive Council of the Pennsylvania State AFL-CIO.
Gerie, Sean
Since 2018, Sean Gerie has served as vice president for the Northeast regional division of the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes, a branch of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. He represents employees affiliated with a union composed of some 40,000 railroad maintenance workers who build and tend to the nation’s network of rail tracks, bridges and structures. He also leads political advocacy for the rail industry, fighting to secure work opportunities, ensure safety standards, and bolster wages and benefits.
Giotto, Tom
The chair of Cozen O’Connor’s Labor & Employment practice group, attorney Tom Giotto represents management in myriad labor- and employment-related matters. His expertise includes union organizing campaigns, collective bargaining, grievance arbitrations and litigation involving discrimination and violations of federal labor law, including the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act and COBRA. He has particular experience in the fields of manufacturing, oil and gas, hospitality, healthcare, higher education, sports and office building associations.
Hall, Bernie
Bernie Hall represents 50,000 active members in 120 local unions of the United Steelworkers, where he is the Pennsylvania director. A fourth-generation union steelworker, he began as a journeyman industrial mechanic at Zinc Corporation of America, joining USW Local 8183 in Bridgewater. He now co-chairs the USW’s national Cement Council, serves as the USW national bargaining chair for ATI and is a trustee to the USW Pennsylvania Heavy and Highway benefits funds, as well as a member of the Pennsylvania Workforce Development Board.
Hall, Marcus
Opening up opportunities for Philadelphians, Marcus Hall directs workforce operations for Philadelphia Works, the city’s nonprofit workforce development agency. An MBA graduate of Saint Joseph’s University, he is responsible for ensuring the efficacy and quality of Philadelphia Works’ adult and youth programs and other employment initiatives. He recently led efforts to create Philadelphia’s youth application portal, a central registration hub for work-based learning experiences aimed at teens and young adults.
Hamilton, William
Bill Hamilton, a second-generation Teamsters leader who first joined the union as a trucker in 1966, serves as vice president for the Eastern Region of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters – and has the ear of many a politician, having advised Gov. Josh Shapiro’s transition committee. He is also the 25-year president of Teamsters Local 107, a position his father once held, and heads both the 95,000-strong Pennsylvania Conference of Teamsters and Joint Council 53.
Harrity, Jim
Jim Harrity, a former union construction worker, chairs the Labor Committee for Philadelphia City Council, to which he was elected in 2022 as an at-large member. The Philadelphia Democrat frequently cites the support of his union for giving him opportunities to advance to roles that include serving as auditor at the City Controller’s Office and as political director for the state Democratic Party. In City Council, he has championed worker protections and access to family-sustaining jobs.
Holubec, Lauren
Lauren Holubec strengthens the state’s talent pipeline as executive director of the Pennsylvania Workforce Development Association. She champions policies and partnerships that spur opportunity and leads initiatives spanning apprenticeships, career and technical education, and economic development. Previously, she held a series of leadership roles at the Harrisburg University of Science and Technology, including as director of professional development programs. She holds an Ed.D. and is a sought-after speaker on workforce innovation and generational shifts in employment.
Hover, Benjamin
Veteran teacher Benjamin Hover directs community engagement and serves as the legislative representative for the Pennsylvania Federation of Teachers Local 3 in Philadelphia, leading outreach and advocacy around higher wages and better working conditions. Over 25 years, he has taught at the elementary, middle and high school levels with the School District of Philadelphia – for the last decade at Central High School. His public service also includes serving as the Borough of Lansdowne’s Council President.
Howell, James
Earlier this year, longtime AFSCME leader James Howell became the administrator of the union’s Council 13 in Harrisburg; he was previously the council’s deputy administrator. In this role, he is responsible for organizing and advocating for 65,000 members employed in Pennsylvania’s public and private nonprofit sectors. He began his union career as a police officer in 1988 and has also served as AFSCME International’s Eastern region director.
Hunter, Christopher
At UPMC’s Western Psychiatric Hospital Local, Christopher Hunter tends to patients as a psychiatric staff nurse – and to his union colleagues as president of the hospital’s local chapter of JNESO, a 5,000-strong regional health workers’ union. Last year, he led contract negotiations that yielded a $40-an-hour wage by 2027 for new-hire nurses with bachelor’s degrees in Pittsburgh. Hunter joined the hospital nearly a decade ago and served as the union local’s vice president before being elected to the top job last year.
Kane, John I.
Plumber, labor leader and now minority chair of the Pennsylvania Senate’s Labor & Industry Committee, state Sen. John Kane has devoted his career to workers and their families. In 2020, he became the first Democrat in nearly 150 years to win election to represent his suburban Philadelphia district in the Senate. The Delaware County plumber previously served five terms as business manager for Plumbers Local 690, and he continues to champion priorities like healthcare access in his current role.
Kelly, Darrin
Whether standing alongside Magee-Womens Hospital nurses seeking to unionize or crusading for state public transit funding, Darrin Kelly is a highly visible champion of workers in his Pittsburgh region and beyond. The U.S. Navy veteran serves as president of the Allegheny-Fayette Central Labor Council, a Western Pennsylvania AFL-CIO affiliate with 100,000 members. A longtime Pittsburgh firefighter, he is also involved with the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 1 and the Pennsylvania Professional Fire Fighters Association.
Kocsis, Jack
Jack Kocsis, the CEO of Associated Construction Contractors of New Jersey, co-chairs the Carpenter Contractor Trust alongside William Sproule, the executive secretary-treasurer of the Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters, whose benefit funds Kocsis co-chairs. At CCR, he guides a Philadelphia-based partnership between labor – some 42,000 skilled craftspeople – and management, aimed at bolstering their collective fortunes. He serves on numerous labor boards and committees, including the New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund Authority.
Laquatra Jr., Joseph
As of this summer, Joe Laquatra is the newest chief of the Pennsylvania Laborers’ District Council – filling a role once occupied by his father, who led the Laborers’ District Council of Western Pennsylvania for decades. In addition to leading the Pittsburgh-based LIUNA affiliate representing workers across Pennsylvania, he serves on the organization’s executive board. Recognized last year for 50 years of service to the union, he has also been the longtime business manager of Local 1058, another role previously held by his father.
Lynch Jr., Mark
Business Manager Mark Lynch Jr. has a lot to celebrate at Philadelphia’s IBEW Local 98, the politically influential electrical workers’ union he has headed since 2021. Last February, Lynch cut the ribbon on the local’s new Navy Yard headquarters and apprenticeship training facility; in March, he cheered the third graduating class of Rosie’s Girls, a women’s career initiative he spearheaded. Lynch’s tenure has also grown participation among veterans and minority groups, leading to historic recruitment numbers for the organization.
Mash, Kenneth
For over a decade, Kenneth Mash has been among the most prominent labor figures on Pennsylvania’s higher-education landscape. The East Stroudsburg University political science professor has led the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties, the union representing some 5,000 educators across the State System of Higher Education, for all but two years since 2014. As such, he has advocated for his peers as the system navigates intense transition, including the recent consolidation of state universities and the creation of new, merged institutions.
McIntyre, Thomas
Pittsburgh labor leader Thomas McIntyre is the longtime business manager and financial secretary for IBEW Local 5, the electrical workers’ union formed in 1897. He was recently elected vice president representing electrical workers on the Pennsylvania State Building & Construction Trades Council, and has also served on the boards of several labor and apprenticeship trust funds. A four-decade IBEW member, he oversees an award-winning training program, political advocacy and key workforce partnerships.
Melman, David
David Melman, a commonwealth labor leader for three decades, is executive vice president for Workers United and manager of the Pennsylvania Joint Board – a position he has held for 20 years. He is also a trustee of the Taft-Hartley Pension and Health Insurance Funds, which serve tens of thousands of union-affiliated beneficiaries. Known for his expertise in labor negotiations across diverse sectors, he is a veteran of numerous organizing campaigns and represents Workers United in the global Federation of Industrial Unions.
Miller, Sam
Last year, registered nurse Sam Miller led efforts to win a groundbreaking union contract for West Penn Hospital, where she is president of the local chapter of SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania. Her efforts helped establish staffing levels set by the National Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses, along with significant raises to retain and recruit experienced nurses. An 18-year veteran of the profession, she currently works in the hospital’s Labor and Delivery department.
Morgan, Gabe
Gabe Morgan serves as executive vice president for SEIU 32BJ, which represents 185,000 property service workers throughout the U.S. He is also the union’s state director for Pennsylvania and Delaware, representing 21,000 cleaners, security officers, building engineers, school and airport workers and food service employees in private-sector, public-sector and government contract roles. He began his career as a Chicago construction worker, organizing and leading advocacy campaigns throughout the Midwest before settling in Pittsburgh.
Mulvey, Ryan T.
In February, Ryan Mulvey became the director of government and public affairs for PhilaPort, the organization that oversees operations at the Port of Philadelphia. In this role, he manages relationships with elected and other public officials for a state agency that supports thousands of workers unionized through the International Longshoremen’s Association. Previously, he honed his government relations skills through chief of staff positions in both the Pennsylvania Senate and the House of Representatives, as well as working for Pennsylvania’s First Judicial District.
O’Brien, Jon
As executive director of the Keystone Contractors Association, Jon O’Brien oversees collective bargaining agreements with construction trades, from carpenters and operating engineers to masons and bricklayers. Additionally, he serves on four labor-management joint apprenticeship committees, the state’s Prevailing Wages Appeals Board and the Apprenticeship Training Council. To encourage future workers, he speaks frequently to high school and college students and recently led the KCA’s launch of a student chapter at the Pennsylvania College of Technology and an ACE Mentor Chapter in Centre County.
Pegram, George
George Pegram, the business manager and financial secretary-treasurer of Plumbers Local 690, leads a 125-year-old union with highly regarded apprenticeship and continuing education programs, and steers key industry partnerships in various construction industry sectors. Under his leadership, the union advocates for effective labor representation in workplaces, higher wages and benefits and more political involvement on water, infrastructure and energy issues.
Pollitt, Brian
As president of Transport Workers Union Local 234, which represents SEPTA workers, Brian Pollitt negotiates his constituency’s interests amid the transit agency’s funding challenges. Last year, he averted a strike, coming away with increases to both pay and benefits for 5,000 train, trolley and bus operators and mechanics. After three-plus decades in Philadelphia transit, he is prioritizing safety and regional mobility in the face of falling ridership, budget gaps and faltering political support.
Rivera, Pedro
A first-generation college graduate, Pedro A. Rivera II became Pennsylvania’s secretary of education – and is now the 10th president of Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology, a role he began in 2020. Appointed to the Pennsylvania State Board of Education, he chairs the board’s Council of Higher Education and also serves on the newly formed State Board of Higher Education. Dedicated to equitable access and funding for education, he holds an education doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania.
Roberts-Johnson, Wendy-Anne
As president and CEO of Philadelphia Youth Network, Wendy-Anne Roberts-Johnson promotes career exposure and work experiences leading to sustainable career pathways for the city’s teens and young adults. She has 25 years of nonprofit leadership experience in Philadelphia – including, most recently, serving as executive director of Need in Deed, an education-focused nonprofit that helps public school students create solutions for issues in their communities while building academic, social and emotional skills.
Sload, G. David
G. David Sload brings four decades of construction and design experience to the leadership of Associated Builders & Contractors Keystone Chapter, where he champions the industry and cultivates its local pipeline through a comprehensive apprenticeship program and by promoting the trades to area youth. Prior to becoming CEO in 2017, he served as vice president for education and workforce development. He began his career as an architectural draftsman, has held construction management leadership roles and has also chaired the Lancaster County Workforce Development Board.
Snell, James
Business Manager James Snell guides his Philadelphia union, Steamfitters Local 420, with the insights and political relationships cultivated over three decades in labor. Having begun his career as a pipefitter, he now represents the interests of 4,500 members, promoting energy and infrastructure workforce opportunities for fitters, plumbers, welders and HVAC technicians. He has worked to expand educational opportunities for his constituency, recently launching an academic partnership for union apprentices with Rowan University.
Sproule, William C.
Forty-three thousand carpenters across six states and Washington, D.C., look for leadership to William Sproule, the longtime executive secretary-treasurer of the Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters. Under his leadership, the council has expanded work opportunities, strengthened apprenticeship programs and advanced labor standards through political advocacy for pro-worker policies. He has also secured key industry partnerships and driven major organizing efforts, ensuring the growth and strength of the union.
Steinberg, Arthur
A graduate of Philadelphia public schools, Arthur Steinberg now leads the city’s educators union as president of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, which represents 14,000 employees in the commonwealth’s largest school district. He is also vice president of the American Federation of Teachers, which represents 1.8 million educators, health professionals and public-service workers. He previously served as president of AFT Pennsylvania and continues as the organization’s assistant treasurer.
Vera Jr., Esteban
For nearly a decade, Esteban Vera Jr. has led Laborers’ Local 57, serving as the public face of Philadelphia’s diversifying organized labor representation in the trades. The first Latino to lead a major Southeastern Pennsylvania labor organization, he represents a majority non-white membership of over 3,000 workers across construction and other building trades. He also serves on the board of SEPTA and advocates for his workforce in regional political circles.
Walker, Nancy A.
In charge of the commonwealth’s working standards is Nancy Walker, who has served as Gov. Josh Shapiro’s secretary of Labor & Industry since 2023. Her tenure has seen upgrades to the state’s unemployment compensation system, stronger enforcement of labor laws and a focus on apprenticeship and other job-training programs. The longtime labor and employment lawyer had previously served as the inaugural chief deputy attorney general for the state Office of Attorney General’s Fair Labor Section.
Willig, Deborah
A sought-after advocate for workers across the commonwealth, Deborah R. Willig has handled labor relations and employment law for more than four decades. She is currently a managing partner at Willig, Williams & Davidson, where she negotiates on behalf of diverse labor unions to secure fair outcomes, higher wages and living standards, and strong pension and health care benefits. In 2023, she received the American Bar Association’s Margaret Brent Award for her groundbreaking career as a model for women in the legal profession.
Yarnell, Matt
As president of SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania since 2016, Matthew W. Yarnell has led the largest and fastest-growing union of caregivers in the state. He first became a union member as a certified nursing assistant at a long-term care facility as a teenager, and helped organize actions for better care. He went on to become an organizer, then union officer, and was elected president in 2016. Yarnell coordinates advocacy to: protect patients, defend funding and expand access to quality health care for all; improve working conditions; and make sure all healthcare workers have good union jobs.
Yobbi, Annale
Annale Yobbi is proud to be part of Allegheny General Hospital’s nursing team, which has fought for union gains that have raised job standards for nursing throughout the Pittsburgh region – and inspired other local nursing teams to organize. Yobbi, a 42-year veteran of the profession and currently a LifeFlight nurse, serves as AGH’s chapter president for SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania. She helped secure 2023’s groundbreaking union contract, which improved nurse-to-patient staffing ratios, raised pay to retain and recruit experienced nurses, and cemented protections against workplace violence.
Young IV, Wendell
For nearly a half-century, Wendell Young IV has organized workers, negotiated contracts and led political engagement for UFCW – including, for the past 20 years, as president of Local 1776, which he helped form through a 2018 merger. He is responsible for a constituency of some 35,000 workers in diverse industries across Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York and West Virginia. He is also a vice president of the UFCW International Union.
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