ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Jose R. Gomez has been sworn in as the new VP of the St. Louis Labor Council AFL-CIO (American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations), marking the first Hispanic leader to hold an executive rank with the labor organization.

The Business Manager for Laborers’ Local 110 since February 2024, Gomez’s career is defined by breaking barriers in national, regional and Missouri’s Local Laborers’ Union history. In October, he also was elected president of the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LiUNA) Latino Caucus (the first from the LiUNA Midwest Region). In this role, he represents regions across the U.S. and Canada.

In addition to his LiUNA union roles, Gomez is also deeply involved in the Greater St. Louis and regional Missouri construction industry leadership by serving as:

  • EVP of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement – St. Louis Chapter
  • Vice Chairman of the Hispanic Chamber Foundation
  • Trustee of the Construction Laborers’ & Contractors Training Fund of Eastern Missouri
  • Chairman of the Greater St. Louis Laborers’ Pension Fund
  • Assistant Chairman of the Greater St. Louis Laborers’ Health and Welfare Fund
  • United Way of Greater St. Louis Board of Directors

He was awarded the Outstanding Labor Activist Award by the NAACP ST. Louis County and is the 2023 recipient of the Premio Esperanza (Hope) Award from the St. Louis Hispanic Leaders Group of which he is also a current member.

Gomez’s newest appointment reinforces the region’s commitment to inclusive leadership and the representation of a diverse workforce. Under Gomez’ leadership since 2024, Laborers’ Local 110, which represents more than 3,900 active and retired members, has grown the membership by over 250 workers and has donated well more than half a million dollars to local causes.

Born in Los Angeles to parents from the Mexican states of Michoacán and Jalisco, Gomez moved to St. Louis in 1998. He joined Laborers’ Local 110 in 2006, working in the field for several years in concrete construction. Gomez credits this period with fundamentally changing his economic trajectory and fueling his passion for the labor movement.