Mary Kay Henry

Mary Kay Henry is a prominent American labor leader, currently serving as the President of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), a position she has held since 2010. She has been a key figure in the American labor movement, working closely with organizations such as the AFL-CIO and the National Labor Relations Board. Henry has also collaborated with prominent labor leaders, including Richard Trumka and Linda Chavez-Thompson, to advance the interests of workers in the United States. Her work has been influenced by the principles of social justice and the legacy of labor leaders like Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta.

● Early Life and Education

Mary Kay Henry was born in Detroit, Michigan, and grew up in a family of United Auto Workers (UAW) members, which instilled in her a strong sense of social responsibility and commitment to the labor movement. She attended Michigan State University, where she studied sociology and became involved in student activism, participating in campaigns supported by the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and the National Organization for Women. After college, Henry worked with the Michigan AFL-CIO and the United Farm Workers, organizations that have been instrumental in shaping the American labor movement, alongside leaders like Walter Reuther and Lane Kirkland.

● Career

Henry's career in labor leadership began in the 1970s, when she worked as a labor organizer for the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), helping to unionize workers in the healthcare and public services sectors, including those at Kaiser Permanente and the City of New York. She quickly rose through the ranks, becoming a key advisor to SEIU President John Sweeney and working closely with other prominent labor leaders, such as Andy Stern and Anna Burger. Henry's work has been influenced by the principles of democratic socialism and the legacy of labor leaders like Eugene Debs and Mary Harris Jones.

● Presidency of

the SEIU As President of the SEIU, Henry has focused on building a more inclusive and democratic labor movement, working to increase worker participation and community engagement, in partnership with organizations like the NAACP and the Sierra Club. She has also been a strong advocate for immigrant rights, racial justice, and economic equality, issues that have been central to the work of the SEIU and other labor organizations, such as the UNITE HERE and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. Henry has worked closely with other labor leaders, including Lee Saunders and Randi Weingarten, to advance the interests of workers in the United States and around the world, through organizations like the International Labour Organization and the Global Union Federations.

● Advocacy and Policy

Henry has been a vocal advocate for a range of policy issues, including universal healthcare, free college tuition, and climate action, working with organizations like the American Medical Association and the National Education Association. She has also been a strong supporter of workers' rights, including the right to collective bargaining and strike action, issues that have been central to the work of the SEIU and other labor organizations, such as the Communications Workers of America and the United Steelworkers. Henry has worked closely with policymakers, including Nancy Pelosi and Bernie Sanders, to advance the interests of workers and promote social justice, through legislation like the Employee Free Choice Act and the Raise the Wage Act.

● Awards and Recognition

Throughout her career, Henry has received numerous awards and honors for her contributions to the labor movement and social justice, including the Eleanor Roosevelt Award and the National Medal of Freedom, which have also been awarded to prominent labor leaders like A. Philip Randolph and Bayard Rustin. She has also been recognized by organizations like the National Women's Hall of Fame and the Labor and Worklife Program at Harvard Law School, which have honored her commitment to workers' rights and social responsibility. Henry's work has been influenced by the principles of human rights and the legacy of labor leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks, and she continues to be a leading voice in the American labor movement, working closely with organizations like the AFL-CIO and the Economic Policy Institute.