AFL-CIO Gets First Female Leader as Shuler Wins Presidency (2)

Longtime AFL-CIO official Liz Shuler has been selected president of the nation’s largest union federation, becoming the first woman to serve in a role regarded as the leader of the U.S. labor movement.

Shuler, who previously held the No. 2 spot as the federation’s secretary-treasurer, was tapped Friday by the AFL-CIO executive council to serve out the last 10 months of late President Richard Trumka’s term, making her the instant front-runner in next year’s race for the federation’s presidency. Trumka died of an apparent heart attack at age 72 on Aug. 5.

Shuler served as Trumka’s second-in-command for more than ...