George Meany | |
|---|---|
 Meany c. 1950-56 | |
| 1st President of the AFL–CIO | |
| In office 1955–1979 | |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Lane Kirkland |
| 5th President of the American Federation of Labor | |
| In office 1952–1955 | |
| Preceded by | William Green |
| Succeeded by | Office abolished |
| 2nd Secretary-Treasurer of the American Federation of Labor | |
| In office 1939–1952 | |
| Preceded by | Frank Morrison |
| Succeeded by | William F. Schnitzler |
| President of the New York State Federation of Labor | |
| In office 1934–1939 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | William George Meany August 16, 1894 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | January 10, 1980 (aged 85) Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Resting place | Gate of Heaven Cemetery |
| Spouse | Eugenia McMahon Meany |
| Occupation | Labor leader |
William George Meany (August 16, 1894 – January 10, 1980) was an American labor union administrator for 57 years. He was important for the creation of the AFL–CIO and served as the AFL–CIO's first president, from 1955 to 1979.
Meany, the son of a union plumber, became a plumber himself at a young age. He became a full-time union official 12 years later. As an officer of the American Federation of Labor, he represented the AFL on the National War Labor Board during World War II. He served as president of the AFL from 1952 to 1955.
He proposed its merger with the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) in 1952 and managed the negotiations until the merger was completed in 1955. He then served as president of the merged AFL–CIO for the next 24 years.
Meany had a reputation for integrity and consistent opposition to corruption in the labor movement,[1] and strong anti-communism. He was one of the best known union administrators in the United States during the mid-20th century.[2]
- ^ Hutchinson, John (Winter 1971). "George Meany and the Wayward". California Management Review. 14 (2). University of California, Berkeley: 51–60. doi:10.2307/41164335. JSTOR 41164335. S2CID 154102282. Archived from the original on May 18, 2015. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
- ^ Meagher, Timothy J. (2005). The Columbia Guide to Irish American History. Columbia University Press. ISBN 978-0-231-12070-8.