Mary Ellen Riordan was the first female president of the Detroit Federation of Teachers one of the largest local unions in the nation, totaling more than 12,000 members. She held that position for more than 20 years and was a transformative figure in guiding the union into the era of collective bargaining, three major strikes, and nationally significant Supreme Court cases involving agency fees and desegregation in public schools. 

Theodore (Ted) Sachs attained national importance as a labor attorney and helped shape labor-relations standards in both the public and private sectors in the United States. Among the significant cases he argued before the Supreme Court were ones that transformed case law on the principle of one person, one vote for legislative apportionment, school desegregation and the legitimization of public employee unions.

The Induction Ceremony will be held on May 16, 2019, at the Operating Engineers Local 324 Career Center located on 1550 Howard Street in Detroit.