PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Longtime labor leader Pat Eiding is turning over the reins of the Philadelphia AFL-CIO Council to new leadership after more than 20 years as president.
When he took over the local council in 2002, it was broke.
“We had to start out by borrowing money. The Building Trades and the teachers union funded us to get the phones back in place,” he recalled.
Today, it represents 200,000 members from more than 100 local unions, relentlessly pushing workers’ rights and pounding the pavement for labor-friendly elected officials. Fans like City Councilmember Curtis Jones credit Eiding with putting in the work.
“You’re Philly tough and you’ve made a difference,” Jones praised Eiding at last week’s City Council session. “I’ve never seen a person that’s been involved in civic life that I’ve never heard anyone say anything negative about you.”
After being elected to lead the council seven times, Eiding decided not to run this year. His mentee, Danny Bauder, was elected to replace him and will take over in January.
Eiding said it’s the right time to pass the torch.
“He’s a bright young man and we need folks to be able to carry this forward, and sometimes you have to put the organization a little bit ahead of yourself,” he said.
Eiding will remain secretary-treasurer of the Philadelphia Building Trades Council, a job he’s held for 40 years, though he’s looking forward to more leisure time.
“I’m a little bit older than some people at these jobs, so my great wife Liz, she’s anxious to see me maybe twice a week instead of once,” he said.
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