David Sullivan (labor leader)
Encyclopedia
David Sullivan was an American
labor
leader and president of the Building Service Employees International Union (BSEIU), the precursor to the Service Employees International Union
, from 1960 to 1971.
, Ireland
, on May 7, 1904, to Stephen and Margaret (Fouhy) O'Sullivan. He attended public school, but abandoned his education during high school. The O'Sullivans emigrated to the United States in 1925, where the family changed the last name (believing "Sullivan" sounded "more American") and settled in New York City
. Sullivan became a naturalized citizen
in 1932. In 1930, Sullivan married the former Kathleen Connaire. The couple had five children.
was founded under the leadership of James Bambrick, who would become its first president. Sullivan became a charter member of the new union, and participated in strikes in 1934 and 1935.
Sullivan allied himself with George Scalise, president of a small BSEIU local of window washers and the international union's representative for the East Coast
. When BSEIU president Jerry Horan
died in April 1937, Scalise was elected BSEIU president with the assistance of the Chicago mob
and Luciano crime family mobster Anthony Carfano
. Scalise used his office to gain control over Local 32B and in 1938 engineered Sullivan's election as secretary-treasurer. Sullivan and another officer stuffed the ballot box to ensure victory. In 1940, Scalise was convicted of bribery, embezzlement and labor racketeering, and imprisoned. Local 1 president William McFetridge
was elected BSEIU president. Despite Sullivan's close relationship with Scalise, President McFetridge voiced total confidence in Sullivan's honesty.
On April 25, 1941, Local 32B President James Bambrick admitted that he had stolen $10,000 in union funds. Although Bambrick accused Sullivan of being the real leader of the union (through his ties to Scalise), Sullivan adamantly denied any wrongdoing. Bambrick resigned as union president, and Sullivan succeeded him as interim president on June 19, 1941. Sullivan won a full term as president on September 18.
Bambrick's charges, however, led to lengthy disputes between the international and Sullivan. Beginning in 1941, BSEIU President McFetridge attempted to repeatedly "try" Sullivan before various union bodies, but was rebuffed numerous times by state and federal courts. Sullivan was elected a BSEIU international vice-president in 1941, and by 1945 had solidified his power in the union. Sullivan's position on the international union's executive board eventually led McFetridge to end efforts to oust Sullivan. In part, Sullivan's stronger political position resulted from his union's growing membership: Local 32B now had more than 36,000 members in 5,000 office buildings and 22 department stores.
McFetridge did not, however, retire quietly. He returned to his home local in Chicago and was elected the local's president. He also refused to give up his seat on the AFL-CIO
executive council. McFetridge continued to assert effective control over BSEIU from afar, challenging Sullivan's decisions, interfering with his choices for staff and elected positions, and undercutting his policy choices. McFetridge was an advocate of the Marina City
mixed-use development in Chicago, which he believed would provide numerous jobs for his members. McFetridge asked that BSEIU invest pension funds in the development, a plan which Sullivan opposed. Although he won BSEIU backing for the Marina City development, McFetridge lost control of BSEIU to Sullivan thereafter. McFetridge retired from the union in 1964, leaving Sullivan in unchallenged control.
BSEIU grew to 40,000 members during Sullivan's first four-year term in office. In 1968, the international union dropped the word "Building" from its title, adopting its current name.
Despite McFetridge's retirement as Local 1 president, he signaled that he wanted to retain his position on the AFL-CIO executive council. For much of 1965, Sullivan lobbied AFL-CIO president George Meany
and other union leaders to dump McFetridge. But media attention to the average age of executive council members probably contributed more to McFetridge's retirement from the federation council. Sullivan was elected an AFL-CIO vice-president on December 14, 1965.
public sector labor leader George Hardy
was elected his successor. Sullivan retired from the AFL-CIO effective as of the federation's fall convention.
After his retirement, Sullivan lived in Flushing, Queens
, New York
. He died there at Booth Memorial Hospital
on January 23, 1976 at the age of 71.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
labor
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
leader and president of the Building Service Employees International Union (BSEIU), the precursor to the Service Employees International Union
Service Employees International Union
Service Employees International Union is a labor union representing about 1.8 million workers in over 100 occupations in the United States , and Canada...
, from 1960 to 1971.
Early life
Sullivan was born in CorkCork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, on May 7, 1904, to Stephen and Margaret (Fouhy) O'Sullivan. He attended public school, but abandoned his education during high school. The O'Sullivans emigrated to the United States in 1925, where the family changed the last name (believing "Sullivan" sounded "more American") and settled in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Sullivan became a naturalized citizen
Naturalization
Naturalization is the acquisition of citizenship and nationality by somebody who was not a citizen of that country at the time of birth....
in 1932. In 1930, Sullivan married the former Kathleen Connaire. The couple had five children.
Rise within Local 32B
Shortly after arriving in New York City, Sullivan took a job as an elevator operator. On April 19, 1934, BSEIU Local 32BSEIU 32BJ
SEIU 32BJ is the largest property service workers union in the United States, representing more than 120,000 members. Its members are office cleaners, security officers, doormen, porters, maintenance workers, bus drivers and aides, window cleaners, school cleaners and food service workers. 32BJ is...
was founded under the leadership of James Bambrick, who would become its first president. Sullivan became a charter member of the new union, and participated in strikes in 1934 and 1935.
Sullivan allied himself with George Scalise, president of a small BSEIU local of window washers and the international union's representative for the East Coast
East Coast of the United States
The East Coast of the United States, also known as the Eastern Seaboard, refers to the easternmost coastal states in the United States, which touch the Atlantic Ocean and stretch up to Canada. The term includes the U.S...
. When BSEIU president Jerry Horan
Jerry Horan
Jeremiah J. Horan was an organized crime figure and President of the Building Service Employees International Union from 1927 until his death in 1937...
died in April 1937, Scalise was elected BSEIU president with the assistance of the Chicago mob
Chicago Outfit
The Chicago Outfit, also known as the Chicago Syndicate or Chicago Mob and sometimes shortened to simply the Outfit, is a crime syndicate based in Chicago, Illinois, USA...
and Luciano crime family mobster Anthony Carfano
Anthony Carfano
Anthony Carfano , also known as "Little Augie Pisano", was a New York gangster who became a caporegime, or group leader, in the Luciano crime family under mob bosses Charles "Lucky" Luciano and Frank Costello....
. Scalise used his office to gain control over Local 32B and in 1938 engineered Sullivan's election as secretary-treasurer. Sullivan and another officer stuffed the ballot box to ensure victory. In 1940, Scalise was convicted of bribery, embezzlement and labor racketeering, and imprisoned. Local 1 president William McFetridge
William McFetridge
William Lane McFetridge was an American labor leader and president of the Building Service Employees International Union , the precursor to the Service Employees International Union, from 1940 to 1960....
was elected BSEIU president. Despite Sullivan's close relationship with Scalise, President McFetridge voiced total confidence in Sullivan's honesty.
On April 25, 1941, Local 32B President James Bambrick admitted that he had stolen $10,000 in union funds. Although Bambrick accused Sullivan of being the real leader of the union (through his ties to Scalise), Sullivan adamantly denied any wrongdoing. Bambrick resigned as union president, and Sullivan succeeded him as interim president on June 19, 1941. Sullivan won a full term as president on September 18.
Bambrick's charges, however, led to lengthy disputes between the international and Sullivan. Beginning in 1941, BSEIU President McFetridge attempted to repeatedly "try" Sullivan before various union bodies, but was rebuffed numerous times by state and federal courts. Sullivan was elected a BSEIU international vice-president in 1941, and by 1945 had solidified his power in the union. Sullivan's position on the international union's executive board eventually led McFetridge to end efforts to oust Sullivan. In part, Sullivan's stronger political position resulted from his union's growing membership: Local 32B now had more than 36,000 members in 5,000 office buildings and 22 department stores.
SEIU presidency
Sullivan was elected president of the BSEIU on May 5, 1960, after McFetridge retired. Local 32B had grown to 37,500 members, while BSEIU had about 275,000 members.McFetridge did not, however, retire quietly. He returned to his home local in Chicago and was elected the local's president. He also refused to give up his seat on the AFL-CIO
AFL-CIO
The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, commonly AFL–CIO, is a national trade union center, the largest federation of unions in the United States, made up of 56 national and international unions, together representing more than 11 million workers...
executive council. McFetridge continued to assert effective control over BSEIU from afar, challenging Sullivan's decisions, interfering with his choices for staff and elected positions, and undercutting his policy choices. McFetridge was an advocate of the Marina City
Marina City
Marina City is a mixed-use residential/commercial building complex occupying an entire city block on State Street in Chicago, Illinois. It lies on the north bank of the Chicago River in downtown Chicago, directly across from the Loop district...
mixed-use development in Chicago, which he believed would provide numerous jobs for his members. McFetridge asked that BSEIU invest pension funds in the development, a plan which Sullivan opposed. Although he won BSEIU backing for the Marina City development, McFetridge lost control of BSEIU to Sullivan thereafter. McFetridge retired from the union in 1964, leaving Sullivan in unchallenged control.
BSEIU grew to 40,000 members during Sullivan's first four-year term in office. In 1968, the international union dropped the word "Building" from its title, adopting its current name.
Despite McFetridge's retirement as Local 1 president, he signaled that he wanted to retain his position on the AFL-CIO executive council. For much of 1965, Sullivan lobbied AFL-CIO president George Meany
George Meany
William George Meany led labor union federations in the United States. As an officer of the American Federation of Labor, he represented the AFL on the National War Labor Board during World War II....
and other union leaders to dump McFetridge. But media attention to the average age of executive council members probably contributed more to McFetridge's retirement from the federation council. Sullivan was elected an AFL-CIO vice-president on December 14, 1965.
Retirement and death
Age, declining health and a changing SEIU membership led Sullivan to retire in 1971. The union had grown by 70% during his presidency, to 467,000 members. Large numbers of SEIU members were public sector or health care workers. A number of younger, more activist leaders whose bases of support lay in these two groups were challenging Sullivan for leadership. Sullivan retired, and CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
public sector labor leader George Hardy
George Hardy (labor leader)
George Hardy was a Canadian-American labor leader who was president of the Service Employees International Union from 1971 to 1980. At the time of his death, SEIU had grown to become the fifth-largest affiliate of the AFL-CIO. Hardy was a vice president of the AFL-CIO from 1972 to 1980, and a...
was elected his successor. Sullivan retired from the AFL-CIO effective as of the federation's fall convention.
After his retirement, Sullivan lived in Flushing, Queens
Flushing, Queens
Flushing, founded in 1645, is a neighborhood in the north central part of the City of New York borough of Queens, east of Manhattan.Flushing was one of the first Dutch settlements on Long Island. Today, it is one of the largest and most diverse neighborhoods in New York City...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. He died there at Booth Memorial Hospital
Booth Memorial Hospital
Booth Memorial Hospital of Cleveland was a short-term hospital located in Cleveland, Ohio, United States. It was closed on November 30, 1991.At the time of closing, it had 54 beds and 132.75 full-time equivalent staff members....
on January 23, 1976 at the age of 71.
External links
- Building Service Employees' International Union. Investigation Committee files, 1939-1941. Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, Cornell University Library.
- David Sullivan Collection. SEIU Executive Office Files. Reuther Library of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University.
- SEIU Local 32B-32J Collection. Service Employees International Union Files. Reuther Library of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University.