Hi john,

This may be a longer email than usual, but I hope you’ll allow this personal privilege. As many of you may have heard, I have decided to retire as Texas AFL-CIO President, effective Dec. 1, 2025.

And today, as laid out by our Constitution, the Texas AFL-CIO Executive Board elected new leadership to fill the remainder of the 2023-2027 term: Leonard Aguilar will serve as the President and Lorraine Montemayor will serve as the Secretary-Treasurer of the organization beginning on Dec. 2, 2025. I could not be more proud of them and excited for the future of the Texas labor movement.

Rick, Leonard, Lorraine, and Executive Board

This has been without question the most challenging, meaningful, and rewarding work I have ever had the privilege of doing. I could have never imagined serving in this role without the support of so many people, including leadership who came before me, like Becky Moeller, Joe Gunn, Emmett Sheppard, and especially our dear friend John Patrick, who made this opportunity a reality for me. Since then, working alongside our affiliates and members across the state has been the experience of a lifetime. I feel proud of what we have accomplished together, and excited for what lies ahead for the labor movement with Leonard and Lorraine’s bold leadership.

We have laid the foundation for a bigger, broader, bolder labor movement. I have great confidence that the Texas AFL-CIO will continue to grow, both in numbers and power, and continue to be the leading voice for workers, for the labor movement, and for all who seek to create a Texas that aligns with our values.

My reasons for retirement are many, (including that I am old AF), but the bottom line is that when I undertook this effort, I had some clear goals about what I wanted to do, and feel largely complete in the work we’ve accomplished together. I like to think we’ve brought a culture of solidarity, honoring our past while charting a new course for the future. We’ve worked to create on-ramps to participation and leadership for workers across the state. And working with staff and executive board, the last 10 years have been marked by deep institutional change at the Texas AFL-CIO, including:

Growth and diversification of the amazing Texas AFL-CIO staff and executive board,
Creation of the Texas Climate Jobs Project, advancing a pro-climate, pro-worker agenda,
Creation of the Texas Immigrant Worker Project, ensuring that the fight for immigrant rights is woven into the fabric of the organization,
Development and growth of the Ruth Ellinger Leadership Academy, training hundreds of new union leaders,
Creation of the Women’s Committee, a space for women to come together to grow labor movement participation,
Creation of the Young Active Labor Leaders (YALL) coalition, giving space to young labor leaders,
Expansion of the Texas AFL-CIO high school and career-building scholarship program,
Development of an innovative and professional political and legislative department, organizing department, and communications department to grow the labor movement and stand up for workers across the state,
Spoke with a clear voice for justice on all issues facing working people,
and much more.

And honestly, y’all, we’re just getting started. I have complete faith in the readiness of the current staff and leadership to seamlessly pick it up and add their own very valuable skills and perspective to the work.

With their leadership, Leonard and Lorraine will bring a working class, rank and file perspective to the organization. Their tenure will also mark the first time that two Latinos have ever led the Texas AFL-CIO.

Both Leonard and Lorraine bring impressive resumes and visions to these roles, and I for one can’t wait to see the growth they bring to our movement. You’ll hear more from them in the months ahead, and they will be officially sworn in on Dec. 2.

Overall, I feel an immense sense of gratitude for you and our movement. The path to changing our country runs through Texas, and organizing the South is the clearest path for us to change this country forever. I will always fight alongside each of you.

In solidarity,

Rick

Rick Levy

President

Texas AFL-CIO

P.S. You can read the official press announcement from today here.