John F. Henning
Encyclopedia
John Francis "Jack" Henning (November 22, 1915 – June 4, 2009) was a U.S.
labor leader, civil servant, and a former U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand (1967–1969) and Under Secretary of Labor (1962–1967). Called "one of organized labor's greatest leaders" and "legendary" for his defense of labor, he is also credited with a positive role in the defense of minimum wage
laws and civil rights
.
, in November 1915 to lower middle-class Irish American
parents. His paternal grandfather, Thomas Henning, was born in Rathfriland
, County Down
, Northern Ireland
. His maternal grandfather was a member of Teamsters
Local 85, one of the oldest Teamsters locals in the West. His father was a plumber and charter member of the United Association of Journeymen Plumbers, Gas Fitters, Steam Fitters, and Steam Fitters' Helpers of the United States and Canada
who lost his job during the anti-union drives after World War I for his work with the Association of Catholic Trade Unionists. After graduating with a bachelor's degree
in English literature from Saint Mary's College of California
, he took a position with the Association of Catholic Trade Unionists in San Francisco in 1938, and in 1949 began working for the California Labor Federation (CLF) (the official American Federation of Labor
organization in California) as administrative assistant
to the Executive Secretary-Treasurer. In 1970, the CLF elected him as Executive Secretary-Treasurer, a position he held until 1996.
He was active in the Knights of the Red Branch, an Irish Catholic fraternal organization, in the 1940s, and a strong supporter of the Irish republicanism
, the Irish Northern Aid Committee
, and the Irish American Unity Conference. He also co-founded the Irish Literary and Historical Society in the 1945.
From 1959 to 1962, Henning was Director of the California Department of Industrial Relations. He served as Under Secretary of Labor in the U.S. Department of Labor from 1962 to 1967, where, as Nancy Pelosi
noted in a 2000 tribute in Congressional Record
, "he was instrumental [...] in preventing restaurants from counting tip
s as wages under minimum wage
laws, and in encouraging the U.S. labor movement to take strong stands for civil rights
." From 1967 to 1969, he was U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand. Henning also worked for civil rights during his term as Regent of the University of California from 1989 to 1997, responding to apartheid in South Africa
by attempting to divest the University's holdings there.
He was a close friend and ally of labor leader César Chávez
, and helped the United Farm Workers
win passaged of the California Agricultural Labor Relations Act
. He also successfully pushed for the restoration of the California Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(CalOSHA) after it was abolished in 1988 by Governor
George Deukmejian
.
Henning was also a former regent or member of the board of trustees of Lone Mountain College
and St. Mary's College of California. He served on the San Francisco Public Welfare Commission, San Francisco Fair Employment Practices Commission, and San Francisco Board of Permit Appeals.
In 1997, St. Mary's College of California created the Henning Institute to encourage and present scholarship on Catholic social thought
. The John F. Henning Center for International Labor Relations was created by the Center for Labor Research and Education at the University of California, Berkeley
in 1999 to promote the study of labor and policy research in the global economy.
Henning and his wife, Betty, had seven children (John Jr., Brian, Patrick, Nancy, Daniel, Thomas, and Mary). Betty Henning died in 1994.
John Henning died at his home in San Francisco on June 4, 2009, in his sleep after a long illness.
in 1986.
He received honorary doctorates from Saint Anselm College
, St. Bonaventure University
, and St. Mary's College of California.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
labor leader, civil servant, and a former U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand (1967–1969) and Under Secretary of Labor (1962–1967). Called "one of organized labor's greatest leaders" and "legendary" for his defense of labor, he is also credited with a positive role in the defense of minimum wage
Minimum wage
A minimum wage is the lowest hourly, daily or monthly remuneration that employers may legally pay to workers. Equivalently, it is the lowest wage at which workers may sell their labour. Although minimum wage laws are in effect in a great many jurisdictions, there are differences of opinion about...
laws and civil rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
.
Biography
John Francis Henning was born in San Francisco, 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...
, in November 1915 to lower middle-class Irish American
Irish American
Irish Americans are citizens of the United States who can trace their ancestry to Ireland. A total of 36,278,332 Americans—estimated at 11.9% of the total population—reported Irish ancestry in the 2008 American Community Survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau...
parents. His paternal grandfather, Thomas Henning, was born in Rathfriland
Rathfriland
Rathfriland is a village in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is a hilltop Plantation of Ulster settlement between the Mourne Mountains, Slieve Croob and Banbridge. It had a population of 2,079 people in the 2001 Census.-History:...
, County Down
County Down
-Cities:*Belfast *Newry -Large towns:*Dundonald*Newtownards*Bangor-Medium towns:...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. His maternal grandfather was a member of Teamsters
Teamsters
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters is a labor union in the United States and Canada. Formed in 1903 by the merger of several local and regional locals of teamsters, the union now represents a diverse membership of blue-collar and professional workers in both the public and private sectors....
Local 85, one of the oldest Teamsters locals in the West. His father was a plumber and charter member of the United Association of Journeymen Plumbers, Gas Fitters, Steam Fitters, and Steam Fitters' Helpers of the United States and Canada
United Association
The United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing, Pipefitting and Sprinkler Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada, commonly known as the United Association is a trade union of journeymen and apprentices of the plumbing, pipefitting, and sprinkler fitting industry of...
who lost his job during the anti-union drives after World War I for his work with the Association of Catholic Trade Unionists. After graduating with a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in English literature from Saint Mary's College of California
Saint Mary's College of California
Saint Mary's College of California is a private, coeducational college located in Moraga, California, United States, a small suburban community about east of Oakland and 20 miles east of San Francisco. It has a 420-acre campus in the Moraga hills. It is affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church...
, he took a position with the Association of Catholic Trade Unionists in San Francisco in 1938, and in 1949 began working for the California Labor Federation (CLF) (the official American Federation of Labor
American Federation of Labor
The American Federation of Labor was one of the first federations of labor unions in the United States. It was founded in 1886 by an alliance of craft unions disaffected from the Knights of Labor, a national labor association. Samuel Gompers was elected president of the Federation at its...
organization in California) as administrative assistant
Administrative Assistant
Administrative Assistant is a broad job category that designates an individual who provides various kinds of administrative support to people and groups in business enterprises.-Kinds of Administrative Assistants:...
to the Executive Secretary-Treasurer. In 1970, the CLF elected him as Executive Secretary-Treasurer, a position he held until 1996.
He was active in the Knights of the Red Branch, an Irish Catholic fraternal organization, in the 1940s, and a strong supporter of the Irish republicanism
Irish Republicanism
Irish republicanism is an ideology based on the belief that all of Ireland should be an independent republic.In 1801, under the Act of Union, the Kingdom of Great Britain and the Kingdom of Ireland merged to form the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
, the Irish Northern Aid Committee
NORAID
Noraid or the Irish Northern Aid Committee is an Irish American fund raising organization founded after the start of the Troubles in Northern Ireland in 1969...
, and the Irish American Unity Conference. He also co-founded the Irish Literary and Historical Society in the 1945.
From 1959 to 1962, Henning was Director of the California Department of Industrial Relations. He served as Under Secretary of Labor in the U.S. Department of Labor from 1962 to 1967, where, as Nancy Pelosi
Nancy Pelosi
Nancy Patricia D'Alesandro Pelosi is the Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives and served as the 60th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 2007 to 2011...
noted in a 2000 tribute in Congressional Record
Congressional Record
The Congressional Record is the official record of the proceedings and debates of the United States Congress. It is published by the United States Government Printing Office, and is issued daily when the United States Congress is in session. Indexes are issued approximately every two weeks...
, "he was instrumental [...] in preventing restaurants from counting tip
Tip
A tip is an extra payment made to certain service sector workers in addition to the advertised price of the transaction. Such payments and their size are a matter of social custom. Tipping varies among cultures and by service industry...
s as wages under minimum wage
Minimum wage
A minimum wage is the lowest hourly, daily or monthly remuneration that employers may legally pay to workers. Equivalently, it is the lowest wage at which workers may sell their labour. Although minimum wage laws are in effect in a great many jurisdictions, there are differences of opinion about...
laws, and in encouraging the U.S. labor movement to take strong stands for civil rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
." From 1967 to 1969, he was U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand. Henning also worked for civil rights during his term as Regent of the University of California from 1989 to 1997, responding to apartheid in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
by attempting to divest the University's holdings there.
He was a close friend and ally of labor leader César Chávez
César Chávez
César Estrada Chávez was an American farm worker, labor leader, and civil rights activist who, with Dolores Huerta, co-founded the National Farm Workers Association, which later became the United Farm Workers ....
, and helped the United Farm Workers
United Farm Workers
The United Farm Workers of America is a labor union created from the merging of two groups, the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee led by Filipino organizer Larry Itliong, and the National Farm Workers Association led by César Chávez...
win passaged of the California Agricultural Labor Relations Act
California Agricultural Labor Relations Act
The California Agricultural Labor Relations Act is a landmark statute enacted by the state of California which became law on June 5, 1975, and which establishes collective bargaining for farmworkers in that state....
. He also successfully pushed for the restoration of the California Occupational Safety and Health Administration
California Occupational Safety and Health Administration
The California Occupational Safety and Health Administration protects the public and workers from safety hazards and enforces the U.S. State of California's occupational and public safety laws...
(CalOSHA) after it was abolished in 1988 by Governor
Governor of California
The Governor of California is the chief executive of the California state government, whose responsibilities include making annual State of the State addresses to the California State Legislature, submitting the budget, and ensuring that state laws are enforced...
George Deukmejian
George Deukmejian
Courken George Deukmejian, Jr. born June 6, 1928) is an Armenian American politician from California who as a Republican served as the 35th Governor of California and as California Attorney General .-Early life:...
.
Henning was also a former regent or member of the board of trustees of Lone Mountain College
Lone Mountain College
Lone Mountain College was a college acquired by the University of San Francisco in 1978. It was founded by the Religious of the Sacred Heart as Sacred Heart Academy in Menlo Park, California in 1898 and became College of the Sacred Heart in 1921...
and St. Mary's College of California. He served on the San Francisco Public Welfare Commission, San Francisco Fair Employment Practices Commission, and San Francisco Board of Permit Appeals.
In 1997, St. Mary's College of California created the Henning Institute to encourage and present scholarship on Catholic social thought
Catholic social teaching
Catholic social teaching is a body of doctrine developed by the Catholic Church on matters of poverty and wealth, economics, social organization and the role of the state...
. The John F. Henning Center for International Labor Relations was created by the Center for Labor Research and Education at the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
in 1999 to promote the study of labor and policy research in the global economy.
Henning and his wife, Betty, had seven children (John Jr., Brian, Patrick, Nancy, Daniel, Thomas, and Mary). Betty Henning died in 1994.
John Henning died at his home in San Francisco on June 4, 2009, in his sleep after a long illness.
Awards and honors
Henning was named a recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of HonorEllis Island Medal of Honor
The Ellis Island Medal of Honor was founded by the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations and intended to pay homage to the immigrant experience. The medals honor the contribution made to America by immigrants and the legacy they left behind in the successes of their children and grand-children...
in 1986.
He received honorary doctorates from Saint Anselm College
Saint Anselm College
Saint Anselm College is a nationally ranked, private, Benedictine, Catholic liberal arts college in Goffstown, New Hampshire. Founded in 1889 by Abbot Hilary Pfrängle, O.S.B. of Saint Mary's Abbey in Newark, New Jersey, at the request of Bishop Denis M. Bradley of Manchester, New Hampshire, the...
, St. Bonaventure University
St. Bonaventure University
St. Bonaventure University is a private, Franciscan Catholic university, located in Allegany, Cattaraugus County, New York, United States. It has roughly 2,400 undergraduate and graduate students....
, and St. Mary's College of California.