David Selden
Encyclopedia
David Selden was an American
activist who led the American Federation of Teachers
from 1968 through 1974.
As Director of Organization of the Teachers Guild from 1953, he was a main strategist in the creation of the United Federation of Teachers
in 1960 and the winning of collective bargaining in 1961. During that time he mentored several UFT staff people and elected leaders. Among them was one he was particularly close to: a junior high school teacher named Albert Shanker
. Shanker often paid tribute to Selden, saying that all he knew about union organizing he had learned from Selden.
Selden left UFT in 1968 upon winning election as president of the American Federation of Teachers. (In AFT, unlike its rival, the National Education Association
, staff members are eligible to run for elective office. Most UFT, AFT, and other large AFT affiliates are headed by former staff people.) With the merger of the AFT and NEA affiliates in New York State in 1972, AFT became a major national union.
Selden's new prominence as head of a major union, and his opposition to the Vietnam War
, landed him on the master list of Nixon political opponents
.
The New York merger also meant that AFT had grown large enough for George Meany
, president of the AFL-CIO
, to judge that the teachers' union deserved a seat on the Big Labor's all-powerful executive council. AFL-CIO rules then required a council member to hold "a unique constitutional office" in his own union. In the AFT only the president and the secretary-treasurer held such offices.
Shanker, now head of AFT's New York City local, the United Federation of Teachers, was one of two dozen AFT vice presidents; he held, that is, a constitutionally non-unique position. But he wanted that AFL-CIO Council seat; and Meany, a hawk on Vietnam who had denied the dovish George McGovern
labor's endorsement two years earlier, would not give the seat to the equally dovish Selden. Shanker, equally a hawk, had the AFT executive council create the position of "executive vice president" and elect him, Shanker, to the position. Though the AFT constitution said nothing about an executive vice president, Meany wanted Shanker and Meany persuaded the AFL-CIO Council to add Shanker to its ranks.
Sensitive to criticism of the two power plays—Meany's and his own—Shanker challenged his erstwhile friend and mentor Selden for the AFT presidency in 1974. He lined up nearly all the other AFT vice presidents in support of his candidacy. At the AFT's annual convention that year, in Toronto, Shanker buried Selden, winning almost 80 percent of the delegates' votes.
Selden retreated to Michigan where he remained active for several years in various union posts, including a spell as executive director of a local American Association of University Professors
chapter.
He died in Kalamazoo, Michigan
, of heart failure, a complication of a stroke he suffered two years prior.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
activist who led the American Federation of Teachers
American Federation of Teachers
The American Federation of Teachers is an American labor union founded in 1916 that represents teachers, paraprofessionals and school-related personnel; local, state and federal employees; higher education faculty and staff, and nurses and other healthcare professionals...
from 1968 through 1974.
As Director of Organization of the Teachers Guild from 1953, he was a main strategist in the creation of the United Federation of Teachers
United Federation of Teachers
The United Federation of Teachers is the labor union that represents most educators in New York City public schools. , there were about 118,000 in-service educators and 17,000 paraprofessionals in the union, as well as about 54,000 retired members...
in 1960 and the winning of collective bargaining in 1961. During that time he mentored several UFT staff people and elected leaders. Among them was one he was particularly close to: a junior high school teacher named Albert Shanker
Albert Shanker
Albert Shanker was President of the United Federation of Teachers from 1964 to 1984 as well as President of the American Federation of Teachers from 1974 to 1997.-Early life:...
. Shanker often paid tribute to Selden, saying that all he knew about union organizing he had learned from Selden.
Selden left UFT in 1968 upon winning election as president of the American Federation of Teachers. (In AFT, unlike its rival, the National Education Association
National Education Association
The National Education Association is the largest professional organization and largest labor union in the United States, representing public school teachers and other support personnel, faculty and staffers at colleges and universities, retired educators, and college students preparing to become...
, staff members are eligible to run for elective office. Most UFT, AFT, and other large AFT affiliates are headed by former staff people.) With the merger of the AFT and NEA affiliates in New York State in 1972, AFT became a major national union.
Selden's new prominence as head of a major union, and his opposition to the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
, landed him on the master list of Nixon political opponents
Master list of Nixon political opponents
A master list of Nixon political opponents was compiled to supplement the original Nixon's Enemies List of 20 key people considered opponents of President Richard Nixon. The master list was compiled by Charles Colson's office and sent in memorandum form to John Dean. Dean later provided this...
.
The New York merger also meant that AFT had grown large enough for 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....
, president of 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...
, to judge that the teachers' union deserved a seat on the Big Labor's all-powerful executive council. AFL-CIO rules then required a council member to hold "a unique constitutional office" in his own union. In the AFT only the president and the secretary-treasurer held such offices.
Shanker, now head of AFT's New York City local, the United Federation of Teachers, was one of two dozen AFT vice presidents; he held, that is, a constitutionally non-unique position. But he wanted that AFL-CIO Council seat; and Meany, a hawk on Vietnam who had denied the dovish George McGovern
George McGovern
George Stanley McGovern is an historian, author, and former U.S. Representative, U.S. Senator, and the Democratic Party nominee in the 1972 presidential election....
labor's endorsement two years earlier, would not give the seat to the equally dovish Selden. Shanker, equally a hawk, had the AFT executive council create the position of "executive vice president" and elect him, Shanker, to the position. Though the AFT constitution said nothing about an executive vice president, Meany wanted Shanker and Meany persuaded the AFL-CIO Council to add Shanker to its ranks.
Sensitive to criticism of the two power plays—Meany's and his own—Shanker challenged his erstwhile friend and mentor Selden for the AFT presidency in 1974. He lined up nearly all the other AFT vice presidents in support of his candidacy. At the AFT's annual convention that year, in Toronto, Shanker buried Selden, winning almost 80 percent of the delegates' votes.
Selden retreated to Michigan where he remained active for several years in various union posts, including a spell as executive director of a local American Association of University Professors
American Association of University Professors
The American Association of University Professors is an organization of professors and other academics in the United States. AAUP membership is about 47,000, with over 500 local campus chapters and 39 state organizations...
chapter.
He died in Kalamazoo, Michigan
Kalamazoo, Michigan
The area on which the modern city stands was once home to Native Americans of the Hopewell culture, who migrated into the area sometime before the first millennium. Evidence of their early residency remains in the form of a small mound in downtown's Bronson Park. The Hopewell civilization began to...
, of heart failure, a complication of a stroke he suffered two years prior.