Arlene Holt Baker

Arlene Holt Baker was approved unanimously as AFL-CIO executive vice president by the AFL-CIO Executive Council in September 2007, becoming the first African American to be elected to one of the federation's three highest offices and the highest-ranking African American woman in the union movement. With more than 30 years of experience as a union and grassroots organizer, Holt Baker began her work in the union movement with AFSCME, and as an organizer and international union representative, she helped public-sector workers in California form a union and win contracts that provided better wages and pay equity for women.