Thomas R. Donahue
Encyclopedia
Thomas Reilly Donahue was Secretary-Treasurer of the AFL-CIO
from 1979 to 1995 and served briefly as its acting President during the second half of 1995.
, after receiving his undergraduate degree at Manhattan College
he became a business agent for the New York local of the Service Employees International Union
(SEIU), during which time it became one of the most powerful unions in the city of New York. In 1963 he became assistant to the President of the national SEIU and then served as Assistant Secretary of Labor during the last two years of the Johnson Administration
. From 1969 to 1973 he served as Executive Secretary of SEIU and became executive assistant to the president of the AFL-CIO, George Meany
, in 1973.
in ensuring the AFL-CIO's support for the Polish labor movement Solidarnosc (Solidarity). Challenging the Communist regime of Poland and its Soviet Communist
backers, Solidarnosc established free-trade unions in the Soviet bloc. The rise of Solidarity
helped to catalyze the fall of Communism.
He also supported the establishment of the National Endowment for Democracy
(NED), on whose Board he has served for several non-consecutive terms. While serving as its vice chairman from 2002 to 2004, Donahue voiced criticisms in the National Catholic Reporter
of the coup attempt
against Hugo Chávez
in 2002, in which some participants had received previous NED support.
In 1993, Donahue was a leading spokesman, along with Ross Perot
, against the passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement
(NAFTA).
He has been a board member of the Albert Shanker Institute
.
, then-SEIU President John Sweeney
announced that he would challenge Lane Kirkland for the Presidency of the AFL–CIO. After Kirkland resigned his Presidency in the spring of 1995, Donahue and Sweeney ran for President and Sweeney won the Executive Council election by 22 to 11. At the AFL-CIO convention in December 1995, Sweeney defeated Donahue and became President.
for over 25 years. After serving on the Platform
Committee of the Democratic Party
for many years, Rachelle Horowitz has served on the Board of the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs
(National Democratic Institute), which is funded by the National Endowment for Democracy
.
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...
from 1979 to 1995 and served briefly as its acting President during the second half of 1995.
Early life
Born and raised in New York CityNew 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...
, after receiving his undergraduate degree at Manhattan College
Manhattan College
Manhattan College is a Roman Catholic liberal arts college in the Lasallian tradition in New York City, United States. Despite the college's name, it is no longer located in Manhattan but in the Riverdale section of the Bronx, roughly 10 miles north of Midtown. Manhattan College offers...
he became a business agent for the New York local of the Service Employees International Union
Service Employees International Union
Service Employees International Union is a labor union representing about 1.8 million workers in over 100 occupations in the United States , and Canada...
(SEIU), during which time it became one of the most powerful unions in the city of New York. In 1963 he became assistant to the President of the national SEIU and then served as Assistant Secretary of Labor during the last two years of the Johnson Administration
Johnson Administration
Johnson Administration may refer to:*Andrew Johnson Administration, 17th President of the United States, 1865–1869*Lyndon B. Johnson Administration, 36th President of the United States, 1963–1969...
. From 1969 to 1973 he served as Executive Secretary of SEIU and became executive assistant to the president of the AFL-CIO, 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....
, in 1973.
Career as a labor leader
Donahue was an influential figure as Meany's executive assistant. When Meany retired in 1979, Donahue was elected Secretary-Treasurer, where he helped President Lane KirklandLane Kirkland
Joseph Lane Kirkland was a US labor union leader who served as President of the AFL-CIO for over sixteen years.-Biography:...
in ensuring the AFL-CIO's support for the Polish labor movement Solidarnosc (Solidarity). Challenging the Communist regime of Poland and its Soviet Communist
Communist Party of the Soviet Union
The Communist Party of the Soviet Union was the only legal, ruling political party in the Soviet Union and one of the largest communist organizations in the world...
backers, Solidarnosc established free-trade unions in the Soviet bloc. The rise of Solidarity
History of Solidarity
The history of Solidarity , a Polish non-governmental trade union, begins in August 1980, at the Lenin Shipyards at its founding by Lech Wałęsa and others. In the early 1980s, it became the first independent labor union in a Soviet-bloc country...
helped to catalyze the fall of Communism.
He also supported the establishment of the National Endowment for Democracy
National Endowment for Democracy
The National Endowment for Democracy, or NED, is a U.S. non-profit organization that was founded in 1983 to promote US-friendly democracy by providing cash grants funded primarily through an annual allocation from the U.S. Congress...
(NED), on whose Board he has served for several non-consecutive terms. While serving as its vice chairman from 2002 to 2004, Donahue voiced criticisms in the National Catholic Reporter
National Catholic Reporter
The National Catholic Reporter is the second largest Catholic newspaper in the United States; its circulation reaches ninety-seven countries on six continents. Based in midtown Kansas City, Missouri, NCR was founded by Robert Hoyt in 1964 as an independent newspaper focusing on the Catholic Church...
of the coup attempt
Venezuelan coup attempt of 2002
The Venezuelan coup attempt of 2002 was a failed coup d'état on 11 April 2002 that saw President Hugo Chávez ousted from office for 47 hours, being restored by a combination of military force and mass demonstration of popular support...
against Hugo Chávez
Hugo Chávez
Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías is the 56th and current President of Venezuela, having held that position since 1999. He was formerly the leader of the Fifth Republic Movement political party from its foundation in 1997 until 2007, when he became the leader of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela...
in 2002, in which some participants had received previous NED support.
In 1993, Donahue was a leading spokesman, along with Ross Perot
Ross Perot
Henry Ross Perot is a U.S. businessman best known for running for President of the United States in 1992 and 1996. Perot founded Electronic Data Systems in 1962, sold the company to General Motors in 1984, and founded Perot Systems in 1988...
, against the passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement
North American Free Trade Agreement
The North American Free Trade Agreement or NAFTA is an agreement signed by the governments of Canada, Mexico, and the United States, creating a trilateral trade bloc in North America. The agreement came into force on January 1, 1994. It superseded the Canada – United States Free Trade Agreement...
(NAFTA).
He has been a board member of the Albert Shanker Institute
Albert 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...
.
President of the AFL–CIO between Kirkland and Sweeney
After the Republican congressional victories in 1994Contract with America
The Contract with America was a document released by the United States Republican Party during the 1994 Congressional election campaign. Written by Larry Hunter, who was aided by Newt Gingrich, Robert Walker, Richard Armey, Bill Paxon, Tom DeLay, John Boehner and Jim Nussle, and in part using text...
, then-SEIU President John Sweeney
John Sweeney (labor leader)
John Joseph Sweeney was the president of the AFL-CIO from 1995 to 2009.-Early years:Born in The Bronx, New York, Sweeney is the son of Joseph and Agnes , both Irish immigrants. The family moved to Yonkers in 1944, where Sweeney attended St. Barnabas Elementary School and graduated from Cardinal...
announced that he would challenge Lane Kirkland for the Presidency of the AFL–CIO. After Kirkland resigned his Presidency in the spring of 1995, Donahue and Sweeney ran for President and Sweeney won the Executive Council election by 22 to 11. At the AFL-CIO convention in December 1995, Sweeney defeated Donahue and became President.
Marriage with Rachelle Horowitz
Tom Donahue is married to Rachelle Horowitz, who served as political director of the American Federation of TeachersAmerican 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...
for over 25 years. After serving on the Platform
Party platform
A party platform, or platform sometimes also referred to as a manifesto, is a list of the actions which a political party, individual candidate, or other organization supports in order to appeal to the general public for the purpose of having said peoples' candidates voted into political office or...
Committee of the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
for many years, Rachelle Horowitz has served on the Board of the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs
National Democratic Institute for International Affairs
The National Democratic Institute for International Affairs is an organization created by the United States government by way of the National Endowment for Democracy to channel grants for furthering democracy in developing nations. It was founded in 1983, shortly after the U.S. Congress created...
(National Democratic Institute), which is funded by the National Endowment for Democracy
National Endowment for Democracy
The National Endowment for Democracy, or NED, is a U.S. non-profit organization that was founded in 1983 to promote US-friendly democracy by providing cash grants funded primarily through an annual allocation from the U.S. Congress...
.