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CWA’s Joe Beirne Inducted into Labor Hall of Fame
Joseph A. Beirne, CWA’s founding president, has joined the company of Samuel Gompers, Mother Jones, Cesar Chavez and other giants of the labor movement enshrined at the Labor Hall of Fame, a permanent exhibit at the U.S. Department of Labor in Washington, D.C.
Labor Secretary Elaine Chao was joined by Beirne’s family and friends as she presided over the 13th annual awards ceremony April 27. Beirne was “a giant in his time — a thoughtful man and a powerful speaker whose influence upon the American labor movement remains strong today,” Chao said.
“Personally, I think Joe would have succeeded Meany as the labor movement’s top leader but for his untimely death in 1974,” observed CWA President Morton Bahr. “Certainly, there would not be a Communications Workers of America as we know it today — representing nearly three-quarters of a million workers throughout communications, media, electronics manufacturing, public service and other fields — if it had not been for Joe Beirne. And the labor movement overall would not be as well prepared for the challenges of the 21st century but for Joe’s leadership”
Bahr recounted Beirne’s many accomplishments, from helping organize the National Federation of Telephone Workers in 1938, to leading the historic 1947 Bell System strike, to engineering creation of the modern CWA with its broad organizing focus throughout and beyond telecommunications.
Bahr credited Beirne with originating the “Triple Threat” of organizing, representation and political action, known today as the CWA Triangle, and with pushing CWA and the AFL-CIO to build ties with unions internationally “fully three decades before anyone was talking about ‘globalization.’”
One of Beirne’s daughters, Bren Leiss, described him as a compassionate man who would work tirelessly in Washington to find a job for a worker in need, then commute home to New Jersey on weekends to read to his children and take snapshots at all of their birthdays and graduations.
“Some of the grandchildren present never knew Papa,” Leiss said. “I hope they come away today with a greater understanding of the man he was.”
Beirne’s daughter Maureen Houston, who serves on the board of the Joseph A. Beirne Foundation, was also in attendance. The foundation annually awards 30 college scholarships to CWA members or family.
There was a strong flavor of Beirne’s Irish Catholic heritage in the remarks of Beirne’s longtime friend and labor columnist Monsignor George Higgins of Catholic University and Carole Waybrant, another Beirne daughter. Higgins pointed out that not only did Beirne die on Labor Day in 1974, but that the day is also the feast day of St. Joseph the Worker. Waybrant closed with Beirne’s favorite Irish blessing.
Labor Secretary Elaine Chao was joined by Beirne’s family and friends as she presided over the 13th annual awards ceremony April 27. Beirne was “a giant in his time — a thoughtful man and a powerful speaker whose influence upon the American labor movement remains strong today,” Chao said.
“Personally, I think Joe would have succeeded Meany as the labor movement’s top leader but for his untimely death in 1974,” observed CWA President Morton Bahr. “Certainly, there would not be a Communications Workers of America as we know it today — representing nearly three-quarters of a million workers throughout communications, media, electronics manufacturing, public service and other fields — if it had not been for Joe Beirne. And the labor movement overall would not be as well prepared for the challenges of the 21st century but for Joe’s leadership”
Bahr recounted Beirne’s many accomplishments, from helping organize the National Federation of Telephone Workers in 1938, to leading the historic 1947 Bell System strike, to engineering creation of the modern CWA with its broad organizing focus throughout and beyond telecommunications.
Bahr credited Beirne with originating the “Triple Threat” of organizing, representation and political action, known today as the CWA Triangle, and with pushing CWA and the AFL-CIO to build ties with unions internationally “fully three decades before anyone was talking about ‘globalization.’”
One of Beirne’s daughters, Bren Leiss, described him as a compassionate man who would work tirelessly in Washington to find a job for a worker in need, then commute home to New Jersey on weekends to read to his children and take snapshots at all of their birthdays and graduations.
“Some of the grandchildren present never knew Papa,” Leiss said. “I hope they come away today with a greater understanding of the man he was.”
Beirne’s daughter Maureen Houston, who serves on the board of the Joseph A. Beirne Foundation, was also in attendance. The foundation annually awards 30 college scholarships to CWA members or family.
There was a strong flavor of Beirne’s Irish Catholic heritage in the remarks of Beirne’s longtime friend and labor columnist Monsignor George Higgins of Catholic University and Carole Waybrant, another Beirne daughter. Higgins pointed out that not only did Beirne die on Labor Day in 1974, but that the day is also the feast day of St. Joseph the Worker. Waybrant closed with Beirne’s favorite Irish blessing.