SAMANTHA DeRISO

The Central New York Labor Council said it has elected its first female president in more than 150 years, SAMANTHA DERISO. She was elected following the retirement of outgoing President Patrick Costello. DeRiso is currently employed by the United Food and Commercial Workers Union and has been a member of the labor movement for over 30 years. Her background includes organizing more than 600 people employed by the Mohawk Valley Health System to fight for higher wages and safer working conditions, participating in numerous strikes, and traveling the country to work with various labor unions in their grassroots-organizing campaigns.