George Gresham, former 1199SEIU president and New York labor champion, dies at 71

George Gresham, former 1199SEIU president and New York labor champion, dies at 71

Powerful labor leader George Gresham, who served as president of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East from 2007 until his retirement in 2025, died May 8 after a long illness. He was 71. Gresham leaves a legacy of social justice and union organizing as well as praise and recognition for his impact on the next generation of organized labor changemakers. Gresham, who was also a longtime contributor to the Amsterdam News, began his union career 5…

Former 1199 president George Gresham passes away

George Gresham, the former president of Local 1199 of the Service Employees International Union, passed away last week following a long illness, the union announced May 8. Gresham, 71, ran the largest healthcare union in the country, now numbering at over 450,000 members across several states, from 2007 to 2025. “President Gresham served our union proudly for many years and we owe a debt of gratitude for the many fights he championed over the de…