Tom Short (unionist)

Last updated

Thomas C. Short (born 1949) is a former American labor union leader.

Born in Cleveland, Short became a stagehand for the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra. In 1968, he followed his father and grandfather in joining the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees. [1] In 1975, he was charged with assaulting the reporter Jay Bacchus when he crossed a picket line, for which he was fined $800. In 1980, he was indicted, along with his father, accused of embezzling union funds, but the charges were dropped. [2] He was elected as an international vice-president of the union in 1988, and then in 1993 became the union's general secretary-treasurer. He was elected as president of the union in 1994. [3]

As leader of the union, Short signed a large number of agreements. He set up a Political Action Committee, and persuaded the United Scenic Artists to reaffiliate to the union. He also introduced the Individual Retirement Plan for union members on the West Coast. [1] The LA Times described him as "often is more ally than adversary to management". [2] Under his leadership, membership of the union increased by more than 50%. [4] In addition, he was elected as a vice-president of the AFL-CIO. [1]

Short retired in 2008. [1] [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AFL–CIO</span> Federation of American trade unions

The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL–CIO) is the largest federation of unions in the United States. It is made up of 60 national and international unions, together representing more than 12 million active and retired workers. The AFL–CIO engages in substantial political spending and activism, typically in support of progressive and pro-labor policies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Sweeney (labor leader)</span> American labor leader (1934–2021)

John Joseph Sweeney was an American labor leader who served as president of the AFL–CIO from 1995 to 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Meany</span> American labor leader (1894–1980)

William George Meany was an American labor union leader for 57 years. He was the key figure in the creation of the AFL–CIO and served as the AFL–CIO's first president, from 1955 to 1979.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jackie Presser</span> American labor leader (1926–1988)

Jackie Presser was an American labor leader and president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters from 1983 until his death in 1988. He was closely connected to organized crime, and allegedly became president of the Teamsters based on the approval and support of the Cleveland Mafia. From 1972 until his death, he was also an informant for the Federal Bureau of Investigation concerning Mafia influence in the Teamsters union.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Linda Chavez-Thompson</span>

Linda Chavez-Thompson is a second-generation Mexican-American and union leader. She was elected the executive vice-president of the AFL-CIO in 1995 and served until September 21, 2007. She was also a vice chair of the Democratic National Committee from 1997 to 2012 and served as a member of the board of trustees of United Way of America. She was the Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Texas in the 2010 election.

Thomas Reilly Donahue Jr. was an American trade union leader who served as Secretary-Treasurer of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations from 1979 to 1995, interim president for several months in 1995, and was President Emeritus from 1996 until his death. He was considered one of the most influential leaders of the post-World War II American trade union movement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alliance for Retired Americans</span>

The Alliance for Retired Americans (ARA) is a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization and nonpartisan organization of retired trade union members affiliated with the AFL-CIO, which founded it in 2001. The group's membership also includes non-union, community-based activists. Its predecessor organization was known as the National Council of Senior Citizens (NCSC).

Douglas J. McCarron is an American labor union activist, who has served as the president of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America since 1995.

Arthur "Artie" Moore was president of the Sheet Metal Workers International Association (SMWIA) from July 1993 to 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leo Gerard</span> Canadian trade union leader

Leo W. Gerard is a retired steelworker and Canadian and American labour leader. He was elected president of the United Steelworkers (USW) in 2001, becoming the second Canadian to head the union. He served in the role until July 2019. He also served on the Executive Council of the AFL-CIO.

Sigurd Lucassen was a carpenter and an American labor leader. He was president of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America from February 1988 to 1995.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emil Rieve</span>

Emil Rieve was an American labor leader. He was president of the Textile Workers Union of America (TWUA) from 1939 to 1956, a vice president of the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) from 1939 to 1955, and a vice president of the AFL-CIO from 1955 to 1960.

William Wayne Winpisinger was the eleventh International President of the million-member International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers from 1977 until his retirement in 1989. Well-read in the economics, history and mission of the American labor movement, he was a forceful and articulate spokesman for organized labor and was often invited to testify before House and Senate committees on legislation affecting working people. During his twelve years as IAM President, he substantially expanded the union's human rights, community services, job safety, public relations and organizing programs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arlene Holt Baker</span> American trade union activist and labor leader

Arlene Holt Baker is an American trade union activist and labor leader. A staff assistant with the AFL-CIO since 1995, she was appointed executive vice-president of the labor federation by the AFL-CIO Executive Council in 2007 and won re-election in 2009. She became the first African American in the federation's history to serve as an officer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pennsylvania AFL–CIO</span> U.S. federation of labor unions

The Pennsylvania AFL–CIO is a federation of labor unions in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania in the United States. It is an affiliate of the AFL–CIO. It was formed on June 9, 1960, by the merger of two predecessor bodies, the Pennsylvania Federation of Labor and the Pennsylvania Industrial Union Council. It can trace its history through its predecessor bodies to 1890.

Arthur A. Coia is a former American labor union leader.

Wayne Eugene Glenn was an American labor union leader.

James "Jim" La Sala was an American labor union leader.

Robert E. "Bob" Wages is a former American labor union leader.

Matthew D. Loeb is an American labor union leader.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Tom Short". AFL-CIO. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  2. 1 2 Verrier, Richard (February 6, 2007). "A union boss with some A-list clout". LA Times. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  3. ↑ Hetrick, Adam (July 30, 2008). "I.A.T.S.E. President Short Likely to Step Down". Playbill. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  4. 1 2 Simmons, Leslie (July 31, 2008). "IATSE president Thomas Short retires". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
Trade union offices
Preceded by
James J. Riley
 General Secretary-Treasurer of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees
1988–1994		Succeeded by
Michael W. Proscia
Preceded by
Alfred W. Di Tolla
 President of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees
1994–2008		Succeeded by
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.