Joseph F. Finnegan
Encyclopedia
Joseph Francis Finnegan was an American
labor mediator who was appointed by President of the United States
Dwight D. Eisenhower
to serve as the fourth Director of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service
from 1955 to 1961, and served as the first director of the equivalent body in New York State
.
. His newspaperman father moved the family to New York City
when Finnegan was a youth. He attended St. Francis Xavier High School
there and graduated from Columbia University
in 1928. He was an evening student at Fordham University School of Law
, graduating in 1931 his law degree.
Finnegan funded his law school education with a job checking cargo on the piers in Brooklyn and as a Wall Street Journal reporter. After graduating from law school, He worked as an assistant United States Attorney
under Thomas E. Dewey from 1931 to 1934 and then spent a year in a law firm. Passage of the Wagner Act
in 1935 led to a surge in demand for labor law specialists and he pursued the trend and "became an expert awfully fast".
During World War II
, Finnegan served in the Air Transport Command
of the United States Army Air Forces
, attaining the rank of major. He was assigned responsibility for traveling across the globe to convince incapable top-ranking officers to retire, recalling how he "went into a general's office and gave him 10 reasons why he should go home".
, at the urging of James P. Mitchell
, a professional acquaintance who was Eisenhower's choice as United States Secretary of Labor
. He was unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate
later that month. It was a position he served in until 1961. He took office on February 7, 1955, with a commitment that he would not dictate terms to either labor or management, as these are matters at "the very heart and essence of collective bargaining under our free enterprise system" and that the alternative would "invite a totalitarian approach".
As Director, Finnegan and the FMCS played roles in mediating settlements in a lengthy 1955 strike against Westinghouse Electric
, a newspaper deliverers strike in 1958, the Steel strike of 1959
(as well as another industry action in 1956) and a strike against Anaconda Copper
in 1960.
Finnegan discussed the issues of workforce changes resulting from increased use of automation
, stating in 1960 that employers should not be saddled with "antiquated rules and methods", but that the workers made redundant through new technologies should not be handled as "a robot to be cast on a trash heap".
Months after leaving his federal government post, he was named as the first director of the New York State Mediation Board. Nominated by Governor of New York
Nelson Rockefeller
on May 4, 1961, Finnegan was sworn in on by Secretary of State of New York
Caroline K. Simon
.on June 1 of that year. He remained in the position until stepping down in November 1963 due to illness, three months before his death.
, Finnegan died at age 59 on February 12, 1964, due to lung disease. He was survived by his wife, the former Maurine Clarkson Schooler.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
labor mediator who was 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....
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
to serve as the fourth 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....
from 1955 to 1961, and served as the first director of the equivalent body in New York State
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...
.
Early life and education
He was born on September 12, 1904, in North Adams, MassachusettsNorth Adams, Massachusetts
North Adams is a city in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 13,708 as of the 2010 census, making it the least populous city in the state...
. His newspaperman father moved the family to 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...
when Finnegan was a youth. He attended St. Francis Xavier High School
Xavier High School (New York City)
Xavier High School is a independent Jesuit university-preparatory high school for young men located at 30 West 16th Street, in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City. It was founded in 1847, as the College of St. Francis Xavier by Father John Larkin, S.J...
there and graduated from Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
in 1928. He was an evening student at Fordham University School of Law
Fordham University School of Law
Fordham University School of Law is a part of Fordham University in the United States. The School is located in the Borough of Manhattan in New York City, and is one of eight ABA-approved law schools in that city.-Overview:According to the U.S. News & World Report, 1,516 J.D. students attend...
, graduating in 1931 his law degree.
Finnegan funded his law school education with a job checking cargo on the piers in Brooklyn and as a Wall Street Journal reporter. After graduating from law school, He worked as an assistant United States Attorney
United States Attorney
United States Attorneys represent the United States federal government in United States district court and United States court of appeals. There are 93 U.S. Attorneys stationed throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands...
under Thomas E. Dewey from 1931 to 1934 and then spent a year in a law firm. Passage of the Wagner Act
National Labor Relations Act
The National Labor Relations Act or Wagner Act , is a 1935 United States federal law that limits the means with which employers may react to workers in the private sector who create labor unions , engage in collective bargaining, and take part in strikes and other forms of concerted activity in...
in 1935 led to a surge in demand for labor law specialists and he pursued the trend and "became an expert awfully fast".
During World War II
World 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...
, Finnegan served in the Air Transport Command
Air Transport Command
Air Transport Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its mission was to meet the urgent demand for the speedy reinforcement of the United States' military bases worldwide during World War II, using an air supply system to supplement surface transport...
of the United States Army Air Forces
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
, attaining the rank of major. He was assigned responsibility for traveling across the globe to convince incapable top-ranking officers to retire, recalling how he "went into a general's office and gave him 10 reasons why he should go home".
Federal and state mediation roles
President Eisenhower nominated him in January 1955 to serve as the fourth Director of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation ServiceFederal 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....
, at the urging of James P. Mitchell
James P. Mitchell
James Paul Mitchell was an American politician from New Jersey. Nicknamed "the social conscience of the Republican Party," he served as United States Secretary of Labor from 1953 to 1961 in the Eisenhower Administration. Mitchell was considered a potential running mate for the 1960 Republican...
, a professional acquaintance who was Eisenhower's choice as United States Secretary of Labor
United States Secretary of Labor
The United States Secretary of Labor is the head of the Department of Labor who exercises control over the department and enforces and suggests laws involving unions, the workplace, and all other issues involving any form of business-person controversies....
. He was unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
later that month. It was a position he served in until 1961. He took office on February 7, 1955, with a commitment that he would not dictate terms to either labor or management, as these are matters at "the very heart and essence of collective bargaining under our free enterprise system" and that the alternative would "invite a totalitarian approach".
As Director, Finnegan and the FMCS played roles in mediating settlements in a lengthy 1955 strike against Westinghouse Electric
Westinghouse Electric (1886)
Westinghouse Electric was an American manufacturing company. It was founded in 1886 as Westinghouse Electric Company and later renamed Westinghouse Electric Corporation by George Westinghouse. The company purchased CBS in 1995 and became CBS Corporation in 1997...
, a newspaper deliverers strike in 1958, the Steel strike of 1959
Steel strike of 1959
The steel strike of 1959 was a 1959 labor union strike by the United Steelworkers of America against major steel-making companies in the United States....
(as well as another industry action in 1956) and a strike against Anaconda Copper
Anaconda Copper
Anaconda Copper Mining Company was one of the largest trusts of the early 20th century. The Anaconda was purchased by Atlantic Richfield Company on January 12, 1977...
in 1960.
Finnegan discussed the issues of workforce changes resulting from increased use of automation
Automation
Automation is the use of control systems and information technologies to reduce the need for human work in the production of goods and services. In the scope of industrialization, automation is a step beyond mechanization...
, stating in 1960 that employers should not be saddled with "antiquated rules and methods", but that the workers made redundant through new technologies should not be handled as "a robot to be cast on a trash heap".
Months after leaving his federal government post, he was named as the first director of the New York State Mediation Board. Nominated by Governor of New York
Governor of New York
The Governor of the State of New York is the chief executive of the State of New York. The governor is the head of the executive branch of New York's state government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military and naval forces. The officeholder is afforded the courtesy title of His/Her...
Nelson Rockefeller
Nelson Rockefeller
Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller was the 41st Vice President of the United States , serving under President Gerald Ford, and the 49th Governor of New York , as well as serving the Roosevelt, Truman and Eisenhower administrations in a variety of positions...
on May 4, 1961, Finnegan was sworn in on by Secretary of State of New York
Secretary of State of New York
The Secretary of State of New York is a cabinet officer in the government of the U.S. state of New York.The current Secretary of State of New York is Cesar A...
Caroline K. Simon
Caroline K. Simon
Caroline Klein Simon was an American lawyer and politician.-Life:She graduated from New York University Law School in 1925....
.on June 1 of that year. He remained in the position until stepping down in November 1963 due to illness, three months before his death.
Personal
A resident of Arlington County, VirginiaArlington County, Virginia
Arlington County is a county in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The land that became Arlington was originally donated by Virginia to the United States government to form part of the new federal capital district. On February 27, 1801, the United States Congress organized the area as a subdivision of...
, Finnegan died at age 59 on February 12, 1964, due to lung disease. He was survived by his wife, the former Maurine Clarkson Schooler.