Pelosi Statement on Passing of Former AFSCME President Gerald ‘Jerry’ McEntee

Washington, D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued this statement on the passing of Gerald "Jerry" McEntee, former President of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME):

"Today, our nation mourns the loss of a legendary champion for American workers and families. Jerry McEntee was a force of nature for organized labor — inspiring in his vision and unyielding in his determination to build a brighter, fairer future for all.

"Since he first got his union card more than six decades ago, Jerry was a powerhouse in the fight for workers: protecting the right to join in union, advancing gender pay equity, improving working conditions and more. For 31 years as president, he transformed AFSCME into a pillar of the labor movement by mobilizing generations of workers with a groundbreaking national organizing strategy. Personally, it was a privilege to fight alongside Jerry for decades, as his sharp mind and iconic toughness helped House Democrats enact some of the most consequential legislation for families in a generation — including the landmark Affordable Care Act.

"Jerry's life and leadership is a testament to this truth: the middle class is the backbone of our Democracy, and the middle class has a union label on it. May it be a comfort to his wife Barbara, his sister Mary Casale, his daughters Patricia, Kathleen and Kelly, his many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and all proud members of AFSCME that so many in the Congress and across the Country mourn their loss and are praying with them during this sad time."