Norton Grateful to Joslyn Williams for 34 Years of Exceptional Service as President of Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today said that the announcement that Joslyn (Josh) Williams will retire in February after serving for 34 years as president of the Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO, was for her a twin loss – of a man who built the local and regional labor movement into one of the most effective and influential in the nation, and of a personal friend, who has been a close partner since Norton came to Congress 25 years ago. The Metropolitan Washington Council is composed of 180 local unions representing 150,000 union members in D.C. and Maryland.

“Josh Williams represents everything we admire about the American story,” Norton said. “He emigrated to the U.S. from Jamaica at 16, earned his college degree at Howard University, became a federal employee and emerged as a talented leader of his local union, the American Federation of Government Employees, and became the first African American president of the Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO, in 1982. Josh’s intelligence, energy, charisma, organizational skills, and strategic acumen combine all the essential elements of leadership. He has had an exceptional ability to work effectively with people of all backgrounds, including labor leaders, elected officials, and executives. Because Josh is one of the most respected leaders in our city, I asked him last summer to serve on my Federal Law Enforcement Nominating Commission, which screens and recommends candidates for important federal law enforcement positions in the District. Knowing Josh, we should expect that he will redefine what retirement means and continue to offer his multitude of gifts to our city and region.”