George Gresham, 72, a power player in New York’s labor movement as the former president of 1199SEIU, is being remembered after his death was announced Friday.
“We owe a debt of gratitude for the many fights he championed over the decades, starting from when he joined 1199 as a rank-and-file member at Presbyterian Hospital 50 years ago,” a statement from the Service Employees International Union read in part.
Gresham died after a long illness.
He “never stopped fighting for working people, communities of color, and the dignity every New Yorker deserves,” said Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-New York).
“For decades, George was a vital voice in the progressive movement in our state,” added Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (D-New York). “As president of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, he was steadfast in getting his union brothers and sisters the fair wages, benefits and continuing education they deserved, while fighting for social justice across our state and our country.”
1199SEUI has over 450,000 members across several eastern states and Washington, DC. It describes itself as the largest and fastest growing healthcare union in the nation.