Born October 21, 1940, Childersburg, Alabama. Union Leader; Civil/Human Rights Activist; Women’s Rights Advocate; Divorced, 3 children

   Education: Cornell University, Trade Union/Study George Meany Labor & Women Studies 1977, Florida International University, Center for Labor Research and Studies 1991.

   Professional Employment: New York Metro Area Postal Union, affiliated with the American Postal Workers Union, AFL-CIO (membership 17,000); president, first woman/first African-American; president of board of directors, New York Metro Area Postal Federal Credit Union; NYMAPU executive vice president, organizational vice president, clerk, craft director, sector aide, shop steward.

   Committee and Organizational Memberships: APWU Rank & File Bargaining Committee, APWU Committee on Safety and Violence; APWU Mechanization Committee founder/organizer, Post Office Women for Equal Rights (POWER); human relations director, APWU New York State; board member, New York State AFL-CIO; member, Postal Press Association; supporter, United Farm Workers, Copper Miners Strike; Women Against Domestic Violence.

   Major Leadership Accomplishments: Purchased eight-story union headquarters and office building; largest contributor, APWU Committee on Political Action (COPA); established Michelle McDermott Trust Fund; rated #2, National Credit Union Association; participant, Central Labor Council Camp Program; contributor 10th Arthritis Foundation Telethon; sponsor, New York Special Olympics; staged Little Flower Children’s Services Reception & Buffet.

   Professional and Civic Affiliations: Board member, NYC Central Labor Council, member, Coalition of Labor Union Women; member, National Organization of Women; member, National Council of Negro Women, Inc.; member, Cornell School of Industrial & Labor Relations; board member, United Way of New York City; board member, NYC Arthritis Foundation, Inc.; board member, American Red Cross; member, Association for a Better New York; NYC & NJ Combined Federal Campaign; NAACP (life) member, Women for Racial and Economic Equality; member, NYC Black Trade Leadership Committee; advisory council member, National Urban League.

   Honors/Special Recognitions: NY Urban League Frederick Douglass Award; NYC Arthritis Foundation Award; YWCA Women Achievers Award; NY Catholic Interracial Council Hoey Ecumenical Award; National Committee of Labor Israel Histadrut Menorah Award; Pacific Group Home Little Flower Children’s Services Award; NAACP Achievement Award; NYC Central Labor Council Hispanic Labor Committee Award; and numerous other awards.

   Conference Presentations and Publications: Yale University’s Local 34 Clerical & Technical Employees Organizing Drive; representative, National Congress of the Postal, Telegraph and Telephone Workers International (PTTI) South Africa 1991 & Portugal 1994, Women’s Congress 1997; NYC Central Labor Council Labor Conference 1986; Metro Labor Press Council Conference 1982; United Federation of Teachers Black History Month 1981; principal speaker, American Institute for Free Labor Development Graduation Ceremony; publisher, The Union Mail (circulation 25,000).

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