Gerald McEntee

Gerald W. "Jerry" McEntee is an American former union official.[2] From 1981 to 2012, he was the president of the 1.4 million-member American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), the largest union of public employees in the United States and an affiliate of the AFL-CIO.[3] McEntee succeeded Jerry Wurf as AFSCME President in 1981, serving until his retirement 2012.[4] McEntee was paid a gross salary of $1,020,751 in 2012, his last year on the job.[5] McEntee's use of $325,000 in union money to charter private jets in 2010 and 2011 became an issue in the campaign to succeed him.[6][7]

This article is about the American labor leader. For the Irish Gaelic footballer and surgeon, see Gerry McEntee.
Gerald McEntee
McEntee in 2008
Born1935 (age 84–85)[1]
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
OccupationFormer President of the AFSCME
Spouse(s)Barbara

McEntee is seen by some as the "power behind the throne" in John J. Sweeney's rise to power in the AFL-CIO, and his rivalry with Andy Stern of the SEIU is seen by some as one of the underlying themes in the break between that federation and the Change to Win Federation.[8]

McEntee was born in Philadelphia and attended parochial schools in his youth. He graduated from La Salle University with a degree in political science in 1956. His father, William J. McEntee, was an original organizer and leader of the city's Municipal Workers' Union. In 1957, he began his career as a labor leader by going to work as an organizer for his fathers' union. He worked as a political strategist for the powerful municipal union until 1969.[9] He was elected Executive Director at the founding convention of AFSCME Council 13 in Pennsylvania in 1973 and an International Vice President of AFSCME in 1974. Besides his B.A. from LaSalle, he is also a graduate of the Harvard University's Trade Union Program. A native of Philadelphia, McEntee and his wife Barbara live in Washington, D.C. He is a contributing writer for the Huffington Post.[10] He is a member of the Democratic National Committee and was a "super delegate" in the Pennsylvania 2008 Democratic National Convention delegation.[11]

References
  1. Bernstein, Harry (March 2, 1997). "Bringing Labor Into the National Political Debate". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  2. Meyerson, Harold (November 3, 2011). "McEntee, Head of AFSCME, to Retire". The American Prospect. Retrieved November 5, 2016.
  3. "OpenSecrets.org "Heavy Hitters"". Center for Responsive Politics. Retrieved January 27, 2012.
  4. Greenhouse, Steven. "AFSCME Chief to Step Down After 30 Years" New York Times November 3, 2011
  5. Geraghty, Jim (February 11, 2014). "America's Richest 2 Percent: Union Presidents". National Review. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  6. Stangler, Cole (June 11, 2012). "AFSCME Union President Spent $325,000 On Chartered Jets: Report". Huffington Post. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  7. Maher, Kris (June 8, 2012). "Charter Flights Shadow Union Election". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  8. Bernstein, Aaron. "Struggle For The Soul Of The AFL-CIO," Business Week, July 25, 2005
  9. Arnesen, Eric (2006). Encyclopedia of US Labor and Working-Class History. Routledge. ISBN 9781135883621.
  10. Bio sketch of McEntee
  11. 2008 Pennsylvania delegate roster
Preceded by
Jerome Wurf		 President, AFSCME
1981 - 2012		 Succeeded by
Lee Saunders


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