Daniel Flippo

District 9 Director

Daniel Flippo is serving his fourth term as Director of District 9, which includes seven Southern states and the U.S. Virgin Islands.  

A native of Amory, Miss., Flippo began his career in 1980 as a production worker for Conoco Chemicals, now Westlake Chemical, in Aberdeen, Miss.

He joined Local 15198 and quickly became an activist. He accepted various assignments, including steward and grievance chairman. He was elected local president in 1986 and served three terms.

After completing training at the AFL-CIO’s Organizing Institute, Flippo worked as a local union activist in organizing from 1989 until 1996 throughout District 36, the predecessor to District 9. In 1996, he became a staff representative for the International.  

While a staff representative for Mississippi and Alabama, Flippo played a significant role in establishing the Mississippi Labor-Management Conference. He now serves on the Executive Board of the Alabama Labor-Management Committee.  

Flippo served as a Sub-Director for the Florida-Georgia Sub-District prior to being named Assistant to the Director in 2007. He also served as District 9 PAC coordinator, first contract coordinator, and education coordinator.  

As Sub-District Director for Florida and Georgia, Flippo integrated staff assignments following the USW’s 2005 merger with the Paper, Allied-Industrial, Chemical, and Energy Workers International Union (PACE). 

He was the Assistant to the Director when the International Executive Board appointed him Director in May 2009. He was elected to a full term by acclamation in November 2009 and reelected in 2013, 2017, and 2021.

As Director, Flippo prioritizes organizing and building the strength and solidarity of the District's locals, working with the staff to grow the District and empower its members.

Flippo serves as USW Council Chairman for Evergreen Packaging (formerly Blue Ridge Paper), WestRock, Dana Automotive, and the Johns Manville Co. Flippo is also the Secretary for U.S. Steel bargaining.   

He graduated from the Harvard Trade Union program and was named Alabama Labor Person of the Year in 2014. The District office is in Gardendale, Ala., where Flippo lives with his wife Patti.