Edward J. McElroy
Encyclopedia
Edward J. McElroy, Jr. is an American
teacher
and labor union
leader. He was president of the American Federation of Teachers
(AFT) from 2004 to 2008, and an AFL-CIO
vice president from 2001 to 2008.
to Edward J. McElroy, Sr. and his wife Clara Angelone McElroy. He graduated with an A.B. degree in education from Providence College
in 1962.
McElroy began a career as an educator teaching social studies and English at Lockwood Junior High School in Warwick, Rhode Island
after graduation. He was elected president of the Warwick Teachers Union, AFT Local 915, for a two-year term in 1967. In 1969, he was elected president of the Rhode Island Federation of Teachers
(RIFT). He continued to teach until 1972, when he became a full-time RIFT president.
As president of RIFT, McElroy oversaw rapid expansion in the union's membership. He also led the union in organizing school paraprofessionals, public employees, higher education faculty and campus workers, and nurses and other workers in hospitals and other health care organizations. McElroy stayed personally involved in the life of the union by handling negotiations and arbitrations for many of RIFT's education locals.
McElroy also was active in state politics. He served on the executive committee of the Rhode Island Democratic Committee, and several workforce development commissions and boards for the state.
In 1974, McElroy was elected a vice president of the AFT, and took a seat on the AFT's executive council. McElroy was instrumental in 1990 in launching the AFT's 'Futures Committee,' a panel of AFT vice presidents who spent two years studying and revamping the union's governance structures. The resulting constitutional amendments enhanced the role of the AFT's constituencies outside the preK-12 teacher division and made other recommendations on strategic planning, financial practices and priorities for the AFT.
In 1977, the 36-year-old McElroy was elected president of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO
.
, died of a heart attack and McElroy was elected as his replacement. During his tenure as secretary-treasurer, McElroy strengthened the union's budgeting process and internal financial controls, and instituted financial training for all local affiliate treasurers.
In December 2001, McElroy was elected to the executive council of the AFL-CIO. He served on various AFL-CIO committees, including its political, education, strategic approaches, women workers and state and local strategies committees. After his election as AFT president, McElroy served on the AFL-CIO's Executive Committee as well.
In 2004, AFT president Sandra Feldman
, suffering from a recurrence of breast cancer, resigned. McElroy was elected president at the union's biennial convention that July. McElroy was widely seen as a transitional president. He focused his tenure as AFT president on broad trade union issues, building the union's influence within the AFL-CIO, strengthening the AFT's state federations and middle- and small-size locals.
President Randi Weingarten on July 14, 2008.
, and chair of the Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO
(a coalition of 25 national unions representing 4 million professional, technical and administrative professionals).
McElroy also serves on the boards of the Amalgamated Bank of Chicago
, Working America
(an affiliate of the AFL-CIO) and the National Labor College
(formerly the George Meany Center for Labor Studies).
McElroy served as a member of the Debt Reduction Task Force at the Bipartisan Policy Center
.
He is married to Edwina B. (Ricci) McElroy; they have four children.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
and labor union
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. He was president of 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...
(AFT) from 2004 to 2008, and an 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...
vice president from 2001 to 2008.
Early life and union career
McElroy was born in Providence, Rhode IslandProvidence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
to Edward J. McElroy, Sr. and his wife Clara Angelone McElroy. He graduated with an A.B. degree in education from Providence College
Providence College
Providence College is a private, coeducational, Catholic university located about two miles west of downtown Providence, Rhode Island, United States, the state's capital city. With a 2010–2011 enrollment of 3,850 undergraduate students and 735 graduate students, the College specializes in academic...
in 1962.
McElroy began a career as an educator teaching social studies and English at Lockwood Junior High School in Warwick, Rhode Island
Warwick, Rhode Island
Warwick is a city in Kent County, Rhode Island, United States. It is the second largest city in the state, with a population of 82,672 at the 2010 census. Its mayor has been Scott Avedisian since 2000...
after graduation. He was elected president of the Warwick Teachers Union, AFT Local 915, for a two-year term in 1967. In 1969, he was elected president of the Rhode Island Federation of Teachers
Rhode Island Federation of Teachers and Health Professionals
The Rhode Island Federation of Teachers and Health Professionals is a statewide federation labor unions in the state of Rhode Island in the United States. The federation's local unions represent teachers and other educational workers, state and municipal employees, health care workers in the...
(RIFT). He continued to teach until 1972, when he became a full-time RIFT president.
As president of RIFT, McElroy oversaw rapid expansion in the union's membership. He also led the union in organizing school paraprofessionals, public employees, higher education faculty and campus workers, and nurses and other workers in hospitals and other health care organizations. McElroy stayed personally involved in the life of the union by handling negotiations and arbitrations for many of RIFT's education locals.
McElroy also was active in state politics. He served on the executive committee of the Rhode Island Democratic Committee, and several workforce development commissions and boards for the state.
In 1974, McElroy was elected a vice president of the AFT, and took a seat on the AFT's executive council. McElroy was instrumental in 1990 in launching the AFT's 'Futures Committee,' a panel of AFT vice presidents who spent two years studying and revamping the union's governance structures. The resulting constitutional amendments enhanced the role of the AFT's constituencies outside the preK-12 teacher division and made other recommendations on strategic planning, financial practices and priorities for the AFT.
In 1977, the 36-year-old McElroy was elected president of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO
Rhode Island AFL-CIO
The Rhode Island AFL-CIO is the statewide affiliate of the AFL-CIO in Rhode Island. Its members include about 250 state and local affiliates of other unions affiliated with the AFL-CIO, representing about 80,000 workers....
.
AFT leadership
In 1992, the AFT's long-time secretary-treasurer, Robert PorterRobert Porter
Robert Porter may refer to:* Sir Robert Porter , in Northern Ireland* Robert Harold Porter , member of Canadian Parliament from Alberta* Sir Robert Ker Porter , archaeologist and diplomat...
, died of a heart attack and McElroy was elected as his replacement. During his tenure as secretary-treasurer, McElroy strengthened the union's budgeting process and internal financial controls, and instituted financial training for all local affiliate treasurers.
In December 2001, McElroy was elected to the executive council of the AFL-CIO. He served on various AFL-CIO committees, including its political, education, strategic approaches, women workers and state and local strategies committees. After his election as AFT president, McElroy served on the AFL-CIO's Executive Committee as well.
In 2004, AFT president Sandra Feldman
Sandra Feldman
Sandra Feldman was an American civil rights activist, educator and labor leader who served as president of the American Federation of Teachers from 1997 to 2004.-Early life:...
, suffering from a recurrence of breast cancer, resigned. McElroy was elected president at the union's biennial convention that July. McElroy was widely seen as a transitional president. He focused his tenure as AFT president on broad trade union issues, building the union's influence within the AFL-CIO, strengthening the AFT's state federations and middle- and small-size locals.
Retirement
McElroy announced on February 12, 2008, that he would retire at the AFT's regularly schedule biennial convention in Chicago, Illinois, in July 2008. He was succeeded by New York City United Federation of TeachersUnited 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...
President Randi Weingarten on July 14, 2008.
Memberships
McElroy is a leader in a wide range of community, civic and labor organizations. He is a member of the board of the Albert Shanker InstituteAlbert Shanker Institute
The Albert Shanker Institute is a nonprofit foundation dedicated to advancing democratic ideals, improving the quality of public education, and conducting research into the labor movement and the sociology of work...
, and chair of the Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO
Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO
The Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO is a semi-autonomous "trade" department of the AFL-CIO, and serves as an advocate for professional workers within the federation, and before legislative bodies, the press and the public....
(a coalition of 25 national unions representing 4 million professional, technical and administrative professionals).
McElroy also serves on the boards of the Amalgamated Bank of Chicago
Amalgamated Bank of Chicago
The Amalgamated Bank of Chicago is a commercial bank headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. In addition to its downtown Chicago office, the bank has a branch office in Warrenville, Illinois....
, Working America
Working America
Working America is an allied organization of the AFL-CIO which works to build alliances among non-union working people. Working America is a nonpartisan, non-profit organization which provides workers who are not union members input into the policies, goals, and legislative efforts of the AFL-CIO...
(an affiliate of the AFL-CIO) and the National Labor College
National Labor College
The National Labor College is the only accredited higher education institution in the United States devoted exclusively to educating union members, leaders and staff. It was established as a training center by the AFL-CIO in 1969 to strengthen union member education and organizing skills...
(formerly the George Meany Center for Labor Studies).
McElroy served as a member of the Debt Reduction Task Force at the Bipartisan Policy Center
Bipartisan Policy Center
The is a non-profit organization that "drives principled solutions through rigorous analysis, reasoned negotiation, and respectful dialogue." Founded in 2007 by former Senate Majority Leaders Howard Baker, Tom Daschle, Bob Dole, and George Mitchell, "BPC combines politically-balanced policymaking...
.
Family
McElroy, a Roman Catholic, resides in Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
He is married to Edwina B. (Ricci) McElroy; they have four children.
Sources
- "AFT President Edward J. McElroy" American Federation of Teachers.
- Greenhouse, Steven. "Teachers’ Union President to Step Down; New Yorker Is Seen as Successor." New York Times. February 13, 2008.
- Who's Who in America. 59th ed. New Providence, N.J.: Marquis Who's Who, 2004. ISBN 0-8379-6982-4