Bill Text: VA HJR740 | 2021 | 1st Special Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Celebrating the life of Andrew D. Washington.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 14-0)
Status: (Passed) 2021-02-11 - Bill text as passed House and Senate (HJ740ER) [HJR740 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2021-HJR740-Enrolled.html
WHEREAS, Andrew D. Washington, esteemed executive director of District Council 20 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, died on December 27, 2020; and
WHEREAS, born and raised in Washington, D.C., Andrew Washington graduated with a bachelor's degree in business administration from Johnson C. Smith University before embarking upon a career with the government of the District of Columbia in 1992; and
WHEREAS, Andrew Washington quickly earned the respect of his colleagues and was promoted to shop steward of Local 1959 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME); he was then promoted to chief shop steward three years later; and
WHEREAS, in 1999, Andrew Washington became the youngest president in the history of AFSCME Local 1959 and continued his meteoric rise when he was elected the youngest vice president in the history of AFSCME District Council 20 shortly thereafter; and
WHEREAS, over 15 years serving union members as AFSCME's president of Local 1959 and vice president of District Council 20, Andrew Washington honed his leadership skills and developed a reputation for his direct, results-oriented approach; and
WHEREAS, with the overwhelming support of his fellow AFSCME Council presidents and their delegates, Andrew Washington was chosen to serve as executive director of AFSCME District Council 20, the largest public sector union in the District of Columbia; and
WHEREAS, as executive director of District Council 20, Andrew Washington served nearly 10,000 union members in Washington, D.C., and Northern Virginia whose work supports various federal and district agencies and the private sector; and
WHEREAS, Andrew Washington effectively advanced labor interests in the nation's capital as District Council 20's representative on the D.C. Labor-Management Partnership Council and as first vice president of the Metropolitan Washington Council AFL-CIO; and
WHEREAS, a recent graduate of Harvard University's Trade Union Program, Andrew Washington was elected in 2017 to serve as chief negotiator for several national labor unions, successfully negotiating a favorable compensation agreement for nearly 20,000 workers; and
WHEREAS, Andrew Washington will be fondly remembered and dearly missed by numerous family members and friends; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby note with great sadness the loss of Andrew D. Washington, a treasured labor leader of Washington, D.C., whose unwavering kindness, generosity, and dedication to his community touched countless lives; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Andrew D. Washington as an expression of the General Assembly's respect for his memory.