FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 16, 2023
Contact: Chelsea Connor | [email protected] | 347-866-6259
DEBORAH WRIGHT APPOINTED AS RWDSU POLITICAL DIRECTOR
(NEW YORK, NY) – Today, the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) announced the hiring of Deborah Wright as the union’s new Political Director. Wright comes from UAW Region 9A where she most recently served as their Political Director/Community Action Program Representative.
“I knew from a young age I wanted to make a difference in people’s lives. Being given the chance to represent such talented and dedicated members and giving your all to something larger than yourself in advance of the goals of the labor and social justice movement is an honor. And I can’t wait to dive into the work and expand upon the political powerhouse that is the RWDSU,” said Debbie Wright, Political Director of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU).
“I am delighted to be working with Debbie. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the role of Political Director at the RWDSU. Her dedication to workers’ rights, social justice and work in the political sphere to advance change for often marginalized and overlooked workers will support our growing memberships’ needs. The RWDSU is leading the way when it comes to new organizing, we’ve never been afraid to take on the big fights we need to ensure workers' rights are not just protected, but advanced. I know Debbie will be a tenacious advocate for our members,” said Stuart Appelbaum, President of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU).
Deborah Wright Bio:
Prior to joining the RWDSU, Deborah “Debbie” Wright served as the Political Director/Community Action Program Representative at the United Auto Workers union’s (UAW) Region 9A. There she led and directed the work of six Community Action Program Councils and coordinated with campaigns of UAW Region 9A endorsed candidates.
Prior to her work as the Political Director Wright served as President of her local union, UAW Local 2325. In addition to her responsibilities operating the union, she organized and led legislative and lobbying efforts at Federal, State, and City level for the Association of Legal Aid Attorneys. Wright participated in many coalitions and with community-based organizations working on social justice issues and issues important to labor. And testified regularly on behalf of the union at City and State legislative and budget hearings. She came to be elected into the role after rising through the ranks of her union having served as Recording Secretary, Vice President for the Criminal Defense Division, Delegate of the Manhattan Criminal Defense Division and rank-and-file member.
Wright began her career as a staff attorney at the Legal Aid Society with a specialization in representing indigent criminal defendants diagnosed with mental illness and was an active member of her union. Wright is a Cum Laude graduate of New York Law School and has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Rutgers University.
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The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) represents 100,000 members throughout the United States, including 45,000 in New York State. The RWDSU is affiliated with the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW). For more information, please visit our website at www.rwdsu.org, Facebook:/RWDSU.UFCW Twitter:@RWDSU.