Richard Trumka Honored with Presidential Medal of Freedom

President Biden posthumously honored former AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the country’s highest civilian honor.

In awarding the medal in July, President Biden said, “No one did more work for American workers than he did. For Rich, his work was synonymous with the word that defined his life: dignity … His work was fierce, always trying to do the right thing for working people … Rich Trumka was the American worker.”

Trumka died suddenly on July 5, 2021. He was succeeded by Portland, Ore. Local 125 member Liz Shuler, the first ever IBEW member to serve as AFL-CIO president. She was elected to a four-year term on June 12.