The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) advances the interests and rights of working people. From 2013: “Gemma de Leon emigrated from the Philippines at the age of five with her parents and younger sister and grew up in Queens, New York.
Like many immigrants, her parents came to the United States dreaming of adventure, a better life and greater opportunities for their children. She became a naturalized citizen at the age of 18 and with great pride, was elected as a delegate to the 2008 and 2012 Democratic National Conventions.
De Leon currently serves as Secretary-Treasurer of Local 1102 RWDSU UFCW, one of the largest private sector labor unions on Long Island. She was recently appointed Executive Vice-President of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU), representing more than 100,000 members who work primarily in retail, manufacturing, and service industries.
RWDSU is affiliated with the International United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW), representing 1.4 million workers in the United States and Canada. She serves on the Board of the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island which advocates for the most at-risk residents of Long Island u2013 our youth, the sick, elderly, disabled or disadvantaged. She is a member of the Executive Committee of the Energeia Partnership at Molloy College, a regional stewardship program dedicated to exploring solutions to the complex issues affecting Long Island. She served as Trustee of the Long Island Power Authority, providing electric service to 1.3 million residents and businesses across Long Island and the Rockaways.
De Leon is Vice-President of the Association of Benefit Administrators, New York, a think-tank for professionals involved in the field of health insurance, pension benefits and financial management and has written and given presentations regarding the future of pension plans. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in public administration and an MBA in marketing management from St. John’s University. She resides in Melville with her husband, James Lopresti, and their two sons Mark and Matthew.
