Dalia Thornton is the Director of the Department of Research and Collective Bargaining Services at the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). At AFSCME, Ms. Thornton’s core job function is assisting affiliates in all aspects of collective bargaining. She has led public sector negotiations for the union at the state level, in homecare, higher education, childcare, transportation and K-12 schools as well as emergency medical responders and the American Red Cross in the private sector. She also conducts collective bargaining and contract campaign trainings for affiliates nationwide.

Ms. Thornton earned her B.A. in Economics with a focus on Labor Economics from the University of Colorado. She earned her Master’s in Political Science with an emphasis in American and International Politics from Colorado State University.