Harry Van Arsdale, Jr.: Labor's Champion

by Gene Ruffini, Theodore Kheel

Harry Van Arsdale (1905-1986) was a towering figure in the New York labor scene. After being initiated into the Local 3 International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers in 1925 and becoming its business manager in 1933, Van Arsdale turned the then corrupt and disorganized union into a force to be reckoned with. He became president of the New York City Central Labor Council in 1957, which put him in a position to become a greater influence for labor relations locally and nationally. As business manager and president of these organizations, Van Arsdale advocated and won shorter work days, in order to give more men a chance to work - especially important in the 1930s. He instituted paid vacation, paid holidays, annuity plans, and educational opportunities for union workers - novelties at that time - as well as scholarships for workers' children. His sincere commitment to improving the lives of American workers and their families made him a truly beloved figure. This fascinating memoir traces Van Arsdale's sixty-plus years as a union member and powerful labor figure, and provides colorful details of his many remarkable accomplishments.

304 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2002

Reviews

[Shaun Richman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Van Arsdale is worthy of a great biography. This is a glorified scrapbook. Not well-written and, sadly, not even well-researched despite the archives that were available to the author.

[Bap · Rating 4 out of 5]

Harry Van Arsdale was the most effective labor leader in New York for a thirty year period in his capacity as leader of IBEW Local 3 and the head of the New York Central Labor council at a time when New York city was a union town through and through. It almost didn't happen. In 1933, when he was 28 years old and a young business agent he was involved in a melee at the Local 3 union hall that left one person shot dead. Harry was convicted of murder though he always denied the charge. On appeal the sentence was reversed. Not only did Local 3 grow to a membership of over 30,000 but Harry organized the taxi drivers, was instrumnetal in helping organize the Teachers Union, and he was involved in every signifigant organizing drive and strike in the city. When the printers went on strike in '62, the publishers let it be known that they would hire scabs to cross the picket line. Harry organized a demonstration of 25,000 workers who joined the picket lines. The plans to break the strike ended there.

We could use more Harry Van Arsdales.

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

If we had more Labor Leaders like Harry the working class people of the USA would be in a much better place. Read his book and find out what a great labor leader is all about.