David L. Cole
Encyclopedia
David Lawrence Cole was an American
labor mediator who served as the second Director of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service
, appointed by President of the United States
Harry S. Truman
in 1952 to succeed Cyrus S. Ching
.
Cole was one of the early pioneers in arbitrating labor disputes, working as the "third man" in negotiations involving the New York City Subway
system, the steel industry and between different unions. Arbitrator Theodore W. Kheel
called Cole "the world's greatest arbitrator". Cole described his role as helping parties deal with problems on their own and "to rely less and less on a third party". In addition to serving locally in labor negotiations and committees in the New York Tri-State Region and Pennsylvania
, Cole served in the labor mediation field under every US President from Franklin D. Roosevelt
to Richard Nixon
.
, where his father was a silk manufacturer. He graduated from Harvard University
in 1921, and went on to earn a law degree at Harvard Law School
in 1924. He returned to Paterson to work as an attorney for companies in the industry, starting in 1926. Cole's son described how the fact that companies there had their looms "trucked out of town as an answer to the union" led his father to "gravitate to the middle of the table".
. Philip Murray, president of the United Steelworkers
and later head of the Congress of Industrial Organizations
, rejected Cole for the role. After Cole challenged him about the rejection and Murray explained that the concern was that he was too close to management, Cole had Murray confirm his credentials with New Jersey union leaders, and got the post after the original objections were withdrawn.
Cole was known for tracking negotiations using four pens with different colors of ink, using a different color to track each side's stance and his own notes. The detailed and colorful tracking of the negotiations helped Cole convince both labor and management that he was ensuring that both sides were heard.
One of Cole's most-treasured objects was a signed poster from Marc Chagall
, given to him by the artist after Cole helped break a stalemate in negotiations to ensure that the new Metropolitan Opera
facility in Manhattan
's Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
opened successfully in 1966.
He served as president of the National Academy of Arbitrators
and as a trustee of both the American Arbitration Association
and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
labor mediator who served as the second Director of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service
Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (USA)
The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service is an independent agency of the United States government, founded in 1947, which provides mediation services to industry, community and government agencies worldwide. One of its most common tasks is to help to mediate labor disputes around the country....
, appointed by President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States . As President Franklin D. Roosevelt's third vice president and the 34th Vice President of the United States , he succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945, when President Roosevelt died less than three months after beginning his...
in 1952 to succeed Cyrus S. Ching
Cyrus S. Ching
Cyrus S. Ching was a Canadian-American who became an American industrialist, federal civil servant, and noted labor union mediator. He was the first director of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service and the Wage Stabilization Board.-Early life:Ching was born on his father's farm in...
.
Cole was one of the early pioneers in arbitrating labor disputes, working as the "third man" in negotiations involving the New York City Subway
New York City Subway
The New York City Subway is a rapid transit system owned by the City of New York and leased to the New York City Transit Authority, a subsidiary agency of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and also known as MTA New York City Transit...
system, the steel industry and between different unions. Arbitrator Theodore W. Kheel
Theodore W. Kheel
Theodore Woodrow Kheel was an American attorney and labor mediator who played a key role in reaching resolutions of long-simmering labor disputes between managements and unions and resulting strikes in New York City and elsewhere in the United States, including the 114-day long 1962-63 New York...
called Cole "the world's greatest arbitrator". Cole described his role as helping parties deal with problems on their own and "to rely less and less on a third party". In addition to serving locally in labor negotiations and committees in the New York Tri-State Region and Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, Cole served in the labor mediation field under every US President from Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
to Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
.
Early life and education
Cole was born in 1902 in Paterson, New JerseyPaterson, New Jersey
Paterson is a city serving as the county seat of Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 146,199, rendering it New Jersey's third largest city and one of the largest cities in the New York City Metropolitan Area, despite a decrease of 3,023...
, where his father was a silk manufacturer. He graduated from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 1921, and went on to earn a law degree at Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
in 1924. He returned to Paterson to work as an attorney for companies in the industry, starting in 1926. Cole's son described how the fact that companies there had their looms "trucked out of town as an answer to the union" led his father to "gravitate to the middle of the table".
Labor negotiation
Cole first became involved in national labor issues when it was suggested that he become involved in a dispute regarding the steel industry that threatened to overturn wage controls established during World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Philip Murray, president of the United Steelworkers
United Steelworkers
The United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union is the largest industrial labor union in North America, with 705,000 members. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, U.S., the United Steelworkers represents workers in the United...
and later head of the Congress of Industrial Organizations
Congress of Industrial Organizations
The Congress of Industrial Organizations, or CIO, proposed by John L. Lewis in 1932, was a federation of unions that organized workers in industrial unions in the United States and Canada from 1935 to 1955. The Taft-Hartley Act of 1947 required union leaders to swear that they were not...
, rejected Cole for the role. After Cole challenged him about the rejection and Murray explained that the concern was that he was too close to management, Cole had Murray confirm his credentials with New Jersey union leaders, and got the post after the original objections were withdrawn.
Cole was known for tracking negotiations using four pens with different colors of ink, using a different color to track each side's stance and his own notes. The detailed and colorful tracking of the negotiations helped Cole convince both labor and management that he was ensuring that both sides were heard.
One of Cole's most-treasured objects was a signed poster from Marc Chagall
Marc Chagall
Marc Chagall Art critic Robert Hughes referred to Chagall as "the quintessential Jewish artist of the twentieth century."According to art historian Michael J...
, given to him by the artist after Cole helped break a stalemate in negotiations to ensure that the new Metropolitan Opera
Metropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager...
facility in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
's Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts is a complex of buildings in the Lincoln Square neighborhood of New York City's Upper West Side. Reynold Levy has been its president since 2002.-History and facilities:...
opened successfully in 1966.
He served as president of the National Academy of Arbitrators
National Academy of Arbitrators
The National Academy of Arbitrators is a not-for-profit 501 honorary and professional organization of labor arbitrators in the United States and Canada founded in 1947....
and as a trustee of both the American Arbitration Association
American Arbitration Association
The American Arbitration Association is a private enterprise in the business of arbitration, and one of several arbitration organizations that administers arbitration proceedings. The AAA also administers mediation and other forms of alternative dispute resolution. It is headquartered in New York...
and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace is a foreign-policy think tank based in Washington, D.C. The organization describes itself as being dedicated to advancing cooperation between nations and promoting active international engagement by the United States...
.