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A.J. Starling's career in the Labor Movement began with the Amalgamated
Transit Union Local 1235 in Nashville, Tennessee in 1971 as a
bus operator. He was later elected to the union executive board
and then as the Recording Secretary of Local 1235, where he served
for 12 years.
While he was a bus operator, he received several awards including
"Operator of the Year", "Perfect Attendance"
and safe driving award for 18 years. A.J. also received a yearly
award that was named in his and his supervisor Frank Brook's honor.
The Brooks-Starling Award given annually to the operator who had
gone above and beyond the call of duty. Before leaving as an operator,
A.J. worked in numerous political campaigns with the Tennessee
AFL-CIO and the National AFL-CIO.
In 1988, A.J. was selected by Tennessee AFL-CIO President Jim
Neeley to serve as labor coordinator in the Technical Assistance
Program where his responsibilities were to work with the Tennessee
Department of Labor in the dislocated workers unit, assisting
hundreds of people to get training and re-employment opportunities.
In 1990, A.J. was promoted to Director of Technical Assistance
Program where he was responsible for the directing, planning and
supervising of all phases and operations of this program. Under
A.J.'s direction, the program has increased from three to six
employees and now has a budget of nearly a half a million dollars.
In January 2003 he became the director of Political Affairs,
A.J. is very involved in community and political activities. He
is a member of the Workforce Investment Board (WIA#9), State of
Tennessee Tax Structure Study Commission, a Red Cross board member,
State President of the Asa Phillip Randolph Institute, a trustee
of Westwood Baptist Church, Coach of the AAU Basketball Boys'
ages 13-17,. A.J. and his wife Marieta have been married for 27
years and have two sons, Jeff and Andrae.
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