Edward L. Fire (born 1937) is a former American labor union leader.

Born in Lowellville, Ohio, Fire was an all-county football player while at high school. He served in the United States Navy for three years, then attended Youngstown State University. He began working at General Motors' Packard Electric plant in Warren, Ohio. He joined the International Union of Electrical Workers (IUE), and was elected as president of his local union in 1964.[1][2]

In 1974, Fire was elected as secretary-treasurer of the union's district 7, and also to the union's executive board in 1975. In 1977, he won election as president of his conference board, in which role he led contract negotiations with General Motors. He became president of district 7 in 1980, and then in 1982 was appointed as secretary-treasurer of the international union.[1][2]

Fire was elected as president of the union in 1996, and also as a vice-president of the AFL-CIO. As leader of his union, he negotiated a merger with the Communications Workers of America, which was completed in 2000. He continued as president of the union's new IUE division until his retirement in 2004.[3]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "New IUE leaders: they've been through the wars". IUE News. December 1982.
  2. ^ a b "IUE board elects Bywater and Fire to top union posts". AFL-CIO News. November 20, 1982.
  3. ^ "Vice President Edward L. Fire". AFL-CIO. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
Trade union offices
Preceded by Secretary-Treasurer of the International Union of Electrical Workers
1982–1996
Succeeded by
Ron Gilvin
Preceded by President of the International Union of Electrical Workers
1996–2000
Succeeded by
Union merged
Preceded by
Division created
President of the IUE-CWA
2000–2003
Succeeded by
Mike Bindas