George
Meany, the son of a plumber, was
born in New York City on 16th August,
1894. After a brief schooling he became a plumber. Meany was active
in the United Association of Plumbers and Steam Fitters and in 1932
was elected as vice president of the New York State Federation of
Labor and two years later was elected president (1934-39).
Meany was also secretary-treasurer of the American
Federation of Labour (AFL) and on the death of William
Green in 1954, became president. A dogmatic leader, he expelled
Jimmy Hoffa and the Teamsters Union in
1957, and ten years later, a dispute with Walter
Reuther led to the United Auto Workers leaving the organisation.
George Meany died on 10th January, 1980.
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