Washington, D.C. — Yesterday, Service Employees International Union (SEIU) members elected April Verrett as their new international president, replacing Mary Kay Henry, who announced she was stepping down earlier this year. Following the election, Patrick Gaspard, president and CEO of the Center for American Progress, issued the following statement:
April Verrett is making history by becoming the first Black woman to lead the SEIU. But while she shatters ceilings, she is also deeply grounded in the personal organizing work that allows service workers to build power, build wealth for themselves and their communities, and, ultimately, build a stronger, more equal democracy. April is assuming leadership of the SEIU at a crucial time when unions have made inroads in places that were unimaginable a few years ago—from Starbucks to the Deep South. Much of this success is due, in large part, to the efforts of Mary Kay Henry, who has led the SEIU with a rare combination of empathy and tenacity for the past 14 years. I am filled with optimism and gratitude that April is now picking up her torch. Workers around the country will benefit from her leadership.
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