Vonda McDaniel, Tennessee Labor leader, mourned after Tuesday death

Vonda McDaniel, a longtime leader of Tennessee’s organized labor movement who pushed to build working class power, died Tuesday in Nashville at the age of 60. The cause of death is not known. 

The Central Labor Council of Nashville and Middle Tennessee, CLC, an organization comprised of more than 40 unions, announced her death. McDaniel served as president of the group since 2013. 

A native of Nashville, McDaniel graduated from McGavock High School and Tennessee State University. 

She began her career in organized labor in 1995, when she was elected to a role with the United Rubber Workers during her tenure at the Bridgestone Firestone plant in Lavergne. 

During her time as president of the CLC, she was founding member of Stand Up Nashville, the Nashville Justice League, Music City Construction Careers (MC3), and Tennessee for All, the latter a coalition of faith, labor and community organizations working to build economic empowerment for Tennesseans. 

She was a member of Metropolitan Nashville Convention Center Authority from its 2009 inception and served as chair of the board’s procurement and development committee. McDaniel also served on the board of Emerge Tennessee, an organization dedicated to electing more Democratic women to office, the AFL-CIO Racial Justice Task Force and the national AFL-CIO executive council. 

McDaniel was set to retire from the CLC at the end of 2026 and was slated to become director of the Highlander Center, a social justice research and training center. 

Tributes poured in from organizations with which McDaniel served and Nashville elected officials. 

“Vonda was one of the strongest voices for working people our state has ever known. She always led with her heart and never lost sight of the people she was fighting for,“ said Tennessee AFL-CIO President Billy Dycus in a statement. “Her legacy will continue to inspire generations of union members and labor leaders for years to come.”

In a social media post, Metro Nashville Councilmember Mike Cortese wrote, “Among the many things I will remember and admire most about Vonda was her tireless dedication to the lifting of all workers, including Nashville’s most underserved. Her efforts reshaped Nashville, touching lives across the city in ways both seen and unseen.”

“Heartbroken by the loss of our union sister Vonda McDaniel,” wrote Liz Shuler, national AFL-CIO president, “She was a fearless leader, a tireless advocate for working people and a cherishedmember of our AFL-CIO family.”