John W. Olsen, president of the Connecticut AFL-CIO labor federation, gave his final address today at the organization’s convention at MGM Grand in Mashantucket.
Olsen spent more than 25 years as president of the Connecticut chapter, which is the state’s largest federation. He is its longest-standing president.
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy described Olsen at the convention today as having tenacity and commitment to the job.
Olsen, who announced in June that he wanted to pursue other interests, is a Greenwich native and plumber by trade. He was elected president in 1988 at the age of 38 to succeed former state Labor Commissioner Betty Tianti.
During his remarks today, he said: “While I am stepping down as president of the Connecticut AFL-CIO, I am not retiring but will continue to fight for working families and for a more peaceful and just world.”
The state federation will hold an election Thursday to choose a new president.
The federation has restructured its constitution so that delegates will elect a full-time executive secretary treasurer to run day-to-day operations. Moving forward, the president role will be part-time and unpaid.
