Colorado AFL-CIO president Steve Adams is officially resigning his position after reaching a settlement with the national office.
The Colorado labor federation has been in turmoil since January, when the national office put it under trusteeship, citing internal divisions within the organization.
Earlier this month, the advisory committee overseeing the federation recommended that the two local leaders, Adams and secretary-treasurer Paul Mendrick, be removed from the payroll as of next month.
Details of Adams’ settlement were not disclosed.
“I think it was a fair settlement,” he said. “The labor movement needed a change. They’re going to be moving in a new direction, and I’m going to do everything I can to assist them in that.”
AFL-CIO president John Sweeney thanked Adams for his leadership.
“Despite the difficulties of the recent past, which have led to the need for this reorganization, he is a dedicated trade unionist who has contributed greatly to our movement,” Sweeney said in a statement.
Adams, whose resignation will be effective next month, said he plans to continue consulting with the local labor office.
The Colorado AFL-CIO represents about 80,000 union members.
Staff writer Julie Dunn can be reached at 303-954-1592 or jdunn@denverpost.com.
