Gwynne Wilcox, who is fighting her ouster from the National Labor Relations Board by the Trump administration, serves as an inspiration for the rest of us in the labor movement.
Speaking at a Women’s History Month event at AFSCME headquarters on Wednesday, Wilcox discussed her fight to continue to advocate for workers’ rights despite her illegal removal from the NLRB. The event was moderated by Secretary-Treasurer Elissa McBride.
A preeminent labor rights attorney, Wilcox was nominated by President Joe Biden in 2021 and confirmed by the Senate to serve on the NLRB, which handles labor relations in the private sector. She was later elevated to NLRB chair, becoming the first Black woman to both serve as a member and the chair of the independent agency.
She brought a strong voice for workers — particularly women, immigrants, and other marginalized communities — to the NLRB. And she helped shape key decisions that affect organizing, bargaining, and holding employers accountable.
However, in 2025, just seven days into the start the second Trump administration, Wilcox was dismissed. She became the first NLRB member to be kicked out in the agency’s 90-year history.
Wilcox has refused to stay silent. Her ongoing fight is pending at the Supreme Court.
Wilcox’s fight should inspire others to stand boldly against injustice to working people.
“You have to think about your impact and think outside of the box,” Wilcox said. “It might be scary to step forward, but if you have a mission, you must put it forth. We must take advantage of what we can do.”
When asked about facing challenges in private sector organizing, Wilcox said, “The labor movement must be tenacious about continuing to organize. … It will require creativity. But workers need a union.”