TRIBUTES have poured in for Richard Trumka, president of the US trade union federation AFL-CIO, after his unexpected death from a heart attack aged 72 on Thursday.

Mr Trumka began his career in the coal mines of Pennsylvania and rose to head the US’s biggest labour federation, with 12.5 million members of affiliated unions.

“The labour movement, the AFL-CIO and the nation lost a legend today,” the federation said. 

US President Joe Biden also paid tribute to a man he described as “a friend” who was “never afraid to speak truth to power, even if the power was held by people he helped elect — myself included.”

International tributes poured in, including from British TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady, who tweeted: “Rich Trumka fought all his life for working class dignity and rights at work, in the US and around the world. 

“He was the best of comrades to the UK trade union movement.”