Mary Elizabeth Bunn (born 1951) is a former American labor unionist. Bunn grew up in

Detroit Detroit ( , ) is the List of municipalities in Michigan, most populous city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated on the bank of the Detroit River across from Windsor, Ontario. It had a population of 639,111 at the 2020 United State ...

and was educated at

Wayne State University Wayne State University (WSU) is a public university, public research university in Detroit, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1868, Wayne State consists of 13 schools and colleges offering approximately 375 programs. It is Michigan's third-l ...

and the

University of Michigan The University of Michigan (U-M, U of M, or Michigan) is a public university, public research university in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1817, it is the oldest institution of higher education in the state. The University of Mi ...

, qualifying as an attorney. In 1985, she was appointed as an associate general counsel for the

United Auto Workers The United Auto Workers (UAW), fully named International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America, is an American labor union that represents workers in the United States (including Puerto Rico) and sou ...

(UAW) union. She also joined the

National Writers Union National Writers Union (NWU) is a trade union in the United States for freelance and contract writers founded on 19 November 1981. NWU is affiliated with the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the International Authors Forum (IAF), a ...

. In 1995, she became administrative assistant to the UAW president, and then in 1998, she was elected as a vice president of the union, replacing

Carolyn Forrest Carolyn Forrest (born July 29, 1932) is a former American labor union leader. Born in Paris, Tennessee, Forrest moved to Michigan with her husband in 1953. She began working at the J. R. Winter Company in 1957, where she organized colleagues to j ...

. The same year, she was elected as a vice-president of the

AFL-CIO The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) is a national trade union center that is the largest federation of unions in the United States. It is made up of 61 national and international unions, together r ...

. Initially directing the UAW's Women's Department, Bunn organized the Woman-to-Woman campaign in Michigan in 2000, which involved many women in political activity for the first time. She later led the Technical, Office and Professional Department, in which role she won bargaining rights for thousands of academic and healthcare workers, and employees of Kentucky. Her next role was leading the Competitive Shops/Independents, Parts, and Suppliers Department, negotiating national contracts. In 2002, she was elected as secretary-treasurer of the union, serving until 2010. She was then appointed as director of organizing for the AFL-CIO.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bunn, Elizabeth 1951 births Living people American women trade unionists Activists from Detroit Trade unionists from Michigan United Auto Workers people Vice presidents of the AFL-CIO