Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Profiles: Sharon Sugiyama

For Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, AFL-CIO is spotlighting various Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders who have worked and continue to work at the intersection of civil and labor rights in the United States. Today’s profile is Sharon Sugiyama of the IAM Union (IAM).

Sharon Sugiyama has dedicated her life to service, leadership and advocacy for others. She began her career in the airline industry in 1992 when she joined Continental Micronesia as an airport sales agent. In 2013, she became a member of IAM and was elected president of Local 2339G. She became District 141 vice president in 2015. Her peers elected her as a delegate to the 2026 AFL-CIO national convention, a testament to the trust she has built through years of principled advocacy, mentorship and service.