Al Austin is a veteran employee advocate who is highly skilled in negotiations, advocacy, capacity building, leadership development and political action. He has over 25 years of experience working in both the private and public sectors representing employees at McDonnell Douglas Aircraft, the Boeing Company, State of California, County of Los Angeles, Orange County, City of Los Angeles and several other municipalities and special districts. Al began his journey in the labor movement as a rank and file member of the UAW Local 148 where he was a member for 13 years. At age 23 he was elected as a leader and during time as a rank and file union member in the aerospace industry he served in many roles including steward, political action coordinator, communication director, health and safety representative, and assistant to the local union president.

Al began working as a Business Representative with AFSCME Council 36 in 2004 where he provided professional labor representation services to public service employees in numerous local government agencies throughout Southern California, including contract enforcement, employee relations, administrative appeals, civil service and arbitration hearings. Al served as a lead negotiator in numerous contract negotiations with local government agencies, which required team building, research, proposal development, strategic planning, and implementation of information campaigns. He led, trained and assisted leaders in the development of internal organizing campaigns, political action programs, including assessing potential candidates for elected public offices. Led and provided support to major issue and candidate campaigns impacting Southern CA.

Al began working with AFSCME Council 57 as a Union Representative in 2013. He is primarily responsible for serving as a full service rep for Local 2620 members in Southern California.