Council 57 is pleased to announce the hiring of a new Executive Director, Michael Seville.
After an extensive nationwide search—with a rigorous screening and interview process— the Council 57 Executive Board unanimously agreed that Seville is the right choice to lead Council 57 forward, especially with the fresh challenges facing working people and our pressing need to increase union power and fight back against threats.
Seville is joining Council 57 after almost 15 years of working in a variety of positions within the Labor Movement.
Seville grew up in Tehachapi, CA, in Kern County. From a young age, he was drawn to the power of collective action and the great opportunities that unions provide for their members and families.
His first job at a union was with IFPTE Local 21 in San Francisco, where he worked as a researcher, honing his analytical skills while developing a deep understanding of government budgets and employment practices.
After a short while, he was promoted to serve as Political and Policy Director, where he created a large network throughout Northern California, working with elected officials, community leaders and other labor leaders to strengthen the rights for all working people.
Seville then went to law school, worked for the Women’s Employment Rights Clinic, and received the American Bar Association award for Excellence in his study of labor and employment law.
He then opened his own labor law practice, and he represented a large cross-section of unions throughout the Bay Area, including the San Francisco Building Trades during negotiations and arbitration.
After practicing law for some time, Seville went back to IFPTE Local 21 and served as a Senior Representative in San Jose, working to build strong relationships between Local 21 and AFSCME Local 101. He was then promoted to Director of Research, Education and Communications, where he worked on building a strong capacity within the union for critical services for its membership.
Seville most recently served as Executive Director of Oregon AFSCME Council 75.
In taking on his new role at Council 57, Seville said he is eager to bolster the Union’s AFSCME Strong programs and craft solutions to help the Council best serve the members.
“In facing the looming attacks on union workers throughout this country, we must dedicate our time and resources in strategic and comprehensive ways,” Seville said. “My number one goal for the coming months is to do everything in my power to ensure that Council 57 is positioned to meet the challenges ahead of us.”
