09/07/2026
This Labor Day, the members of Alpha Delta Omega Chapter honor and remember our former chapter member, Sister Vonda McDaniel, a true titan of Tennessee’s organized labor movement who devoted her life to building working-class power.
A proud Nashville native, McGavock High School and Tennessee State University graduate, Sister Vonda’s journey in labor began in 1995 with the United Rubber Workers at the Lavergne Bridgestone Firestone plant. From there, her visionary leadership transformed our community. As President of the Central Labor Council of Nashville and Middle Tennessee (CLC) since 2013, she helped unite more than 40 unions and co-founded impactful organizations like Stand Up Nashville, the Nashville Justice League, Music City Construction Careers (MC3), and Tennessee for All.
Her dedication extended across every corner of public life—serving on the Metropolitan Nashville Convention Center Authority, the Emerge Tennessee board, the AFL-CIO Racial Justice Task Force, and the national AFL-CIO Executive Council.
Though we grieve her passing this past June, we carry forward her fierce commitment to justice, solidarity, and the dignity of all workers. As Tennessee AFL-CIO President Billy Dycus shared, “She always led with her heart and never lost sight of the people she was fighting for.”
Rest in power and solidarity, Sister Vonda. Your legacy will inspire generations to come