Public Employee Press

Retiring AFSCME President Gerald W. McEntee:
Union builder, political powerhouse

By DIANE S. WILLIAMS

After 31 years as chief of the nation's largest public service employees union, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees President Gerald W. McEntee is retiring.

A tenacious leader in the forefront of battles for workers' rights, pay equity, pensions, health care and social justice, McEntee led AFSCME through monumental challenges, attacks on working families and the middle class and outrageous attempts to privatize Social Security and destroy public services. Under his leadership AFSCME organized 640,000 workers to grow to its current 1.6 million members and muscled up its political arm to influence Senate, House and presidential races.

"President McEntee is a force to be reckoned with, a political powerhouse who steered us in the right direction in the most challenging times," said DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts. "He always emphasizes political action and now chairs the AFL-CIO's nationwide political operation. Jerry McEntee led in the major fights to protect members' collective bargaining rights," including the victorious drive to repeal Ohio's anti-bargaining law and the current campaign to recall Wisconsin Republican Gov. Scott Walker.

Labor's pitbull

McEntee led AFSCME volunteers across the country who fought to elect President Barack Obama, championed Obama's Affordable Care Act to end health insurance abuses and guarantee coverage for almost all Americans, and helped pass the president's legislation that pumped life into our economy and saved millions of public service jobs. "Jerry never backs down and he fights to win. Under his leadership we all won," said Roberts.

A fiery speaker known for his quick-witted zingers, McEntee boldly spoke truth to power, slammed opponents and inspired rank-and-file members. The journey that began 54 years ago as an AFSCME organizer made him an adviser to two U.S. presidents, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama.

"Seeing him at my first AFSCME convention in 1998, I was proud this man was at the top," said Local 1455 President Mike DeMarco. "President McEntee's enthusiasm and passion for the labor movement motivated me and showed me how to be a better union leader."

Over the years, President McEntee forged a very special relationship with DC 37. Local 1320 President Jim Tucciarelli said, "When former Mayor Giuliani tried to privatize water treatment plants, Jerry arranged meetings with the Environmental Protection Agency and the Internal Revenue. With his influence, we pushed back and won."

McEntee visited Ground Zero soon after 9/11. "Everyone was dazed by the attacks. No one traveled here. We wondered if the city would ever come back," said Tucciarelli. McEntee gathered recovery workers and volunteers cleaning up Ground Zero and DC 37's building a block away. "He climbed onto a DOT truck and spoke to us from the heart, thanked us for our sacrifice and told us AFSCME supports all our efforts."


"He knew Council 37 would survive because so many members and retirees counted on us to protect their livelihoods and provide services," Tucciarelli said. And McEntee took action. "He moved AFSCME's legislative conference here, bringing hundreds of members from around the country," said Tucciarelli. "His bold decision encouraged us and boosted the city's economy. Jerry McEntee and AFSCME were here for
New York when we needed help."

"In our darkest days, when DC 37 was placed under administratorship, President McEntee had the wisdom and judgment to send us Lee Saunders, who righted our ship. McEntee has always been fair to everyone, not just his supporters," said Eddie Rodriguez, president of DC 37 and Local 1549.

McEntee proudly partners with the United Negro College Fund, invests in AFSCME's future through the Next Wave program to train the next generation of union leaders and co-founded the Economic Policy Institute to counter conservative think tanks. He was arrested in a Washington protest against apartheid and brought Nelson Mandela to the 1990 AFSCME convention shortly after his release from prison in South Africa.

"President McEntee reconvened AFSCME's bi-annual women's conference and always supports our issues," said Local 957 President Walthene Primus, who chairs the union's Women's Advisory Committee.

Bold protector

"Jerry has been splendid for AFSCME retirees," said Stu Leibowitz, president of DC 37's Retiree Association. "He went to the mat to protect Social Security and defeated Bush's privatization scheme."

"He is impressive, a powerful speaker, a hands-on leader," said Local 1482 President Eileen Muller. "He stood strong when others bent."

"Our biggest fight is against Wall Street-backed challenges to our freedom to organize and bargain for a better life for our members," said McEntee, who has led not just AFSCME but a national movement to protect the rights of all Americans against the powerful 1 percent. "When we're united, nobody can defeat us," he said. "When we fight, we win. And when we win, the lives of working people all over America improve."