Los Angeles – IATSE International Representative Yvonne Wheeler was unanimously elected Monday evening as the President of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor. Wheeler, the first Black woman to hold the position, will oversee the organization of 300 affiliated unions and over 800,000 members.
President Wheeler has been working as an IA International Representative in the Motion Picture and Television Department since March 2022, assigned to projects like co-chairing the joint IATSE/AMPTP Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committee with co-chair IA Rep Liz Pecos and assisting Local unions out of the West Coast Office.
Prior to her work with IATSE, Sister Wheeler’s career in labor spans 30 years of work within the AFL-CIO including positions in leadership with the A. Philip Randolph Institute, CWA, AFL-CIO, AFSCME, AFGE and most recently, IATSE.
As a longtime civil rights and labor activist, Sister Wheeler has spent a lifetime championing the rights of working people. “I am honored to be elected to lead during such a critical time for workers,” Wheeler said in a statement, “In a post-COVID reality, we have to rebound, restabilize and reimagine from the perspective of workers to ensure we are on the right path, and that has to be our priority.”
Sister Wheeler was nominated for the position by IATSE International Vice President and interim LA County Federation President Thom Davis with the unanimous support of over 40 IA delegates in attendance.
“Our members, our communities rely on us,” Wheeler said. “We will fight to uplift their voices and build their power.” President Wheeler plans to work closely with her staff and local affiliates to develop a strategic plan to serve as a roadmap for the organization moving forwards. She is committed to working closely with the local unions to ensure access and resources are made available for all members.
