Longtime state employee union leader retiring

Long time state employee union leader Marty Beil announced Wednesday he is retiring at the end of the month.

Beil has served as executive director of the Wisconsin State Employees Union, AFSCME Council 24, since 1985, and has been active in union affairs since 1969.

Beil  has been a chief critic of Gov. Scott Walker since the passage of Act 10 in 2011, which changed collective bargaining in the state of Wisconsin for public employees.  While union membership has dropped, Beil has been an outspoken advocate for workers’ rights.

But Beil said he still believes unions will play a key role going forward.

“What excites me is the involvement and commitment of young workers to meet the challenge and assume leadership roles in our new union,” said Beil. “These determined, savvy young leaders will re-energize and move our union forward into the future.”

The announcement does not detail who will replace Beil.