Union officials interviewed by Workday Minnesota praised the choice of Ray Waldron as president-elect of the Minnesota AFL-CIO. Following are some of their comments:

'If you're looking for a partner in that kind of work, you couldn't find a finer person,' said John Williams, who worked with Waldron for 10 years at the Minneapolis Building Trades. 'Try to find somebody who doesn't like the guy - there isn't anybody!'

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Roger Siegal, director of AFSCME Council 14, worked closely with Waldron during Siegal's 18 years as a business representative for AFSCME locals in Minneapolis.

'What I most admire is his long-term commitment to the labor movement and his integrity,' Siegal said. 'You could always count on him.'

Although AFSCME and the Building Trades sometimes differed on issues and political candidates, Siegal said he 'always enjoyed working with Ray. I knew that if we had differences, they would never be personal, always professional.'

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Waldron has been supportive of other unions in their efforts, said Ron Lloyd, vice president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1005.

With Waldron's help, Local 1005 was able to stop legislation this year that would have privatized bus maintenance jobs, Lloyd said. 'Ray's a great choice for president. He is 100 percent union!'

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Jaye Rykunyk, principal officer of Hotel Employees & Restaurant Employees Local 17, said Waldron has backed Local 17 many times in its efforts to organize.

'I've had the opportunity to work with Ray over the years on a number of issues in Minneapolis,' she said. 'He will provide wonderful leadership for us.'

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Dick Johnson, president of the Minneapolis Central Labor Union Council, described Waldron this way: 'Ray has exercised good judgment with various unions and has the ability to resolve differences and have everybody come together.'