In May 2002 Pierrette “Petee” Talley was elected as Ohio AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer becoming the first woman ever elected as one of two principal officers in the history of the labor federation. Talley was re-elected to a fifth 4-year term in 2018 but stepped down from her leadership role at the Ohio AFL-CIO retiring as Secretary-Treasurer in 2019.
Prior to her elected position at the Ohio Federation of Labor, she worked for the National AFL-CIO as the Ohio Director of Field Mobilization and prior to that she worked for her union, the American Federation of State, Council and Municipal Employees as the Legislative and Political Director in Michigan. She began her career in labor as the Office Administrator the AFSCME Ohio Council 8 in the Toledo Region in 1980.
She spearheaded many local and statewide initiatives and campaigns throughout her career in organized labor and community social justice and civic engagement work in the AFL-CIO and with the Ohio Coalition on Black Civic Participation. Now, as the President and Convener of the Ohio Coalition on Black Civic Participation/Ohio Unity Coalition headquartered in Toledo, she convenes a coalition of labor, faith, civil and human rights organizations with a focus on civic engagement in African American communities across the state.
She continues service on several boards including Universal Health Care Action Network (UHCAN) Ohio; Progress Ohio; A. Philip Randolph Institute (APRI) National Board; Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU) National Executive Council; Ohio Voice; and the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus Foundation and most recently she serves on the board of the Student Resource Center.
She and her life partner Cornell, have a blended family of 4 children, 10 grandchildren 4 great grandchildren and Smokey their FURBABY.
