Illinois AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Pat Devaney swore in the East Central Illinois AFL-CIO’s nine new officers, who affirmed their commitment to advocating for union members and their families. The newly inaugurated leadership emphasized building strong partnerships with community organizations and engaging in political campaigns aimed at improving the lives of working people.
The newly elected officers include:
President — Luther Baker, IBEW Local 601
Vice President — Dave Beck, AFSCME Council 31
Treasurer — Zach Thomas, Painters Local 363
Recording Secretary — Erik Davis, Ironworkers 380
Member at Large — Krissy Webber, Roofers 97
Guardian — Josh Robertson, Carpenters Local 243
Trustee — Laura Abbott, Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 149
Trustee — Elise Jones, IFT 4776
Trustee — Chelsea Birchmier, GEO 6300
President-elect Luther Baker is a journeyman member of IBEW 601 and state representative of the IBEW RENEW young workers initiative. Under his leadership, Baker plans to build deeper coalitions between the community and labor movement, highlight the council’s role in community service, and ensure that the region’s union members are actively engaged in the political process.
The East Central Illinois AFL-CIO serves as the region’s Central Labor Council (CLC). Formerly known as the Champaign County AFL-CIO, the council adopted its new regional name, East Central Illinois AFL-CIO, in December 2025 as part of the AFL-CIO’s “Modernizing the Movement” initiative. The East Central Illinois AFL-CIO now represents 18,902 union members across eleven counties: Champaign, Vermillion, Iroquois, Ford, Douglas, Edgar, Coles, Cumberland, Clark, Jasper, and Crawford.
The Illinois AFL-CIO is embracing the national AFL-CIO’s “Modernizing the Movement” initiative to better align its work around labor’s shared values at every level. Changes to Central Labor Council (CLC) jurisdictions will enable councils to more effectively mobilize union growth, launch inclusive and impactful political programs, advance strong legislative advocacy, and deepen community engagement. The newly formed East Central Illinois AFL-CIO will be a stronger voice for working families in Central Illinois.
