Organizing and adding members are top goals for the newly elected AFL-CIO president

The nation's largest labor federation made history on Sunday when Elizabeth Shuler became the first woman ever elected president of the AFL-CIO.

A second barrier was also broken at the organization's convention in Philadelphia when Fred Redmond became the federation's highest-ranking Black official. He was elected secretary-treasurer, the AFL-CIO's No. 2 leadership post.

President Biden, who often touts his ties to the labor movement, spoke to the convention on Tuesday, praising the work of Shuler and crediting unions with having built the American middle class and for giving working people dignity.

Shuler was elected to a four-year term, but has actually been serving as AFL-CIO president since last year, following the unexpected death of her predecessor, Richard Trumka.

In her speech at the convention, Shuler pledged to expand on recent organizing drives — from high tech to retail to the service industry.

"Nineteen thousand at Starbucks across the country are reclaiming what