The state’s largest Union Council elected Mr. James Maravelias to take over for the retiring Sam Lathem as President.

Mr. Maravelias said his main goal as head of the state branch of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations is to get the Unions back on a strong footing in Delaware.

“I want to get the membership engaged,” Mr. Maravelias said. “They have been pretty disappointed over the years. They have just been neglected.”

Currently, Mr. Maravelias serves as President of the Delaware Building Construction Trades Council, a role he will continue to occupy. The Delaware Building Construction Trades Council, representing 23 affiliated local unions, is a professional organization advocating for the use of local, skilled tradesmen with developers, builders, contractors and Delaware’s business community. Additionally, he is the elected Business Manager/Secretary Treasurer of Laborers’ Local 199 and Business Manager of the Laborers’ District Council of Delaware.

The son of a Greek immigrant and first generation American, Mr. Maravelias proudly served in the United States Navy. Following his military service, Mr. Maravelias worked for Sikorsky Aircraft, traveling the world as an Electrical and Avionics Technician.

True to his heritage and entrepreneurial spirit, he managed an import and export company specializing in goods from his family’s native country of Greece.  Mr. Maravelias played semi-professional soccer in his family homeland and continues to be involved in Delaware’s Greek-American community as a member of the American Hellenic Education Progressive Association and past Church Treasurer and later 2nd. Vice President and current board member of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church.

Mr. Maravelias earned a Bachelor’s Degree from the National Labor College and studied at Cornell University. He has volunteered his time to a broad array of civic causes including the United Way of Delaware, the USS John Fitzgerald Kennedy Naval Memorial Committee, the New Castle County Diversity Board and the 27th Democratic Representative District Committee.

He resides with his wife Diane in Caravel Farms. Together, they reside in Bear, Delaware and raised 3 daughters — Angelique, Elena, and Evangelia.

Faith D. Morris is a strong outspoken leader in the labor movement in Delaware. She has worked tirelessly on behalf of working women and men to defend their rights and works to ensure a better quality of life for them and their families.

Faith has worked for the State of Delaware at the Delaware Psychiatric Center for the past 31 years. She began her career as a Nursing Assistant and after training became a Psychiatric Technician. She then advanced to the Social Services Department within the Delaware Psychiatric Center’s structure to become a Social Service Specialist II.

Faith’s involvement with the labor movement began when she became a Shop Steward for Local Union 640 AFSCME. Her work there prepared her to run and win a seat on the Executive Board. Her further activity on behalf or her local progressed as she was elected Vice-President. After the resignation of the President of Local 640, she was appointed to fill the vacancy and won election and re-election for five terms.

Faith continued her record of service when she was elected President of the Delaware Public Employees Council 81 AFSCME representing over 50 locals in Delaware in October 2004. Faith was elected to the DE State AFL-CIO Executive Board and served with distinction in that position until she was appointed to fill the remainder term of the position of Secretary-Treasurer in March 2015. Faith was elected to that position on November 21, 2015.

Faith is an active member of CLUW, the Coalition of Labor Union Women. She is also active in the Bear Chapter of the N.A.A.C.P. and serves on the Committee of the Democratic 5th Representative District.

Faith’s service on the Executive Board of the Delaware State AFL-CIO has been exemplary. She has served on the Political Education, Labor Day Parade, Conventions, Credentials and Finance Committees. Faith’s has been politically involved serving as the Chair of the Delaware Public Employees Council 81 AFSCME Political Action Committee for many years.

Faith has served in many capacities in the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU) and is currently on its Executive Board.

Faith resides in New Castle, DE with her husband Winfred B. Morris. The joys of her life are a son, Marcus and his children Jaylen and Aaliyah, a daughter Tenisha and her daughter Amirah.

As a part of her very being, Faith is an active and dedicated union member and expects nothing less of those she serves. She is an inspiration to all labor.