Chavez-Thompson, Linda (1944–)
Chavez-Thompson, Linda (1944–)
Hispanic-American labor leader. Born Aug 1, 1944, in Lubbock, Texas; 1 of 8 children of share-croppers; married at 19 and divorced; m. 2nd husband Robert Thompson (died); children: (1st m.) 2.
Rose from the ranks of her union, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, to be elected executive vice president of the AFL-CIO (Oct 25, 1995); reelected for a 4-year term (1997), the highest-ranking woman in the labor movement; at start of career, served as union secretary for the Laborer's International Union (1967–71); was an International Union representative of AFSCME (1971–73); served in several positions with both the San Antonio Local and Texas Council of AFSCME (1973–95); was international president of AFSCME (1998–96); also served as national vice president of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (1986–96); appointed by Bill Clinton to serve on the President's Initiative on Race and as vice chair of the President's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities.