The October meeting of the FPE/AFT program and policy council (PPC) began with a moment of silence in memory of Sheila Jordan, a PPC member and president of the FPE/AFT-affiliated City Union of Baltimore (CUB), which represents about 5,000 city workers.

Jordan, 49, died in September following a two-year battle with cancer. She had just been re-elected to a third term as CUB president.

"What I admired about [Sheila] was that she was a fighter for the union," says Carol Weidel, PPC member and president of the FPE/AFT-affiliated Professional Employees in Research Statistics and Analysis in Wisconsin. "She started out rank and file. I admired her ability and her risk taking. She was a fabulous role model."

Jordan was instrumental in the FPE/AFT's 1987 organizing campaign to represent Baltimore city workers, taking leave from her job at the Baltimore City Jail to work on the campaign. After CUB was elected to represent city workers, Jordan joined the union's staff as labor relations specialist and then as staff director. She was first elected CUB president in 1997.

"Sheila was a great leader for Baltimore city employees," says Steve Porter, FPE/AFT department director. "She turned the City Union of Baltimore into a major political force and put the union on solid financial footing. She was always quick to assist with union building in Maryland and across the country. She leaves a legacy that brings strength to our union at every level. We will miss her strong and vibrant presence."

James Carroll, who succeeds Jordan as CUB president, says "we look to her as one of the pioneers of our local. She was a strong leader and advocate against privatization. She was definitely for the rights of workers, fighting to make sure that they had fair rights and equal pay. We are going to miss her very, very much."

Porter says hundreds of people attended Jordan's memorial service, including Baltimore's mayor, Martin O'Malley, and members of the city council.