Former, Longtime Tennessee AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Eddie Bryan Passes Away

Tennessee AFL-CIO President Billy Dycus and Secretary-Treasurer A.J. Starling issued the following statement on the passing of former, longtime Secretary-Treasurer Eddie Bryan.

"Tennessee’s labor movement lost a legend early this morning. Eddie was a larger-than-life figure who never met a stranger and always had a smile on his face. It is truly impossible to not associate the fight for workers’ rights in our state with his name. No words can adequately describe how grateful we are for all of his contributions to our labor family throughout his remarkable life.

As a proud member of the Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 3808 and Secretary-Treasurer of the Tennessee AFL-CIO Labor Council for over 30 years, Eddie led the working families of our state through countless transformational changes over multiple decades. Whether he was lobbying on behalf of our members at the Capitol, serving as the deputy commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development, or simply speaking at a union meeting, he was a force to be reckoned with. When Eddie spoke, our members listened.

Beyond the labor movement, Eddie’s devotion to and love for his community ran deep. He served as a Davidson County Election Commissioner for nearly 20 years and sat on numerous boards and civic organizations. His commitment to giving back was evident each and every day. We are confident that there will never be another leader like Eddie Bryan.

We send our deepest and most heartfelt sympathies to Eddie’s grandchildren, his family, and all those who were impacted during his lifetime of service to Tennessee’s workers. His passing leaves a void within the labor movement that will never be filled, and we are committed to carrying on the important work that he began.”