James O'Connell (unionist)

James O'Connell (August 22, 1858 – October 30, 1936) was an American labor union leader.

Born in Minersville, Pennsylvania, O'Connell completed an apprenticeship as a machinist, then went to work as a machinist on the railroads. He joined the Knights of Labor, and from 1889 to 1891 worked for the union in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania as a lobbyist. In about 1890, he joined what became the International Association of Machinists, and in 1891, he was elected to its executive.[1][2]

In 1893, O'Connell was elected as Grand Master Machinist, leader of the union, continuing in the post after it was renamed "president" in 1899. In his early years with the union, its headquarters moved periodically, and he relocated first to Chicago, and then in 1900 to Washington DC.[1]

The Machinists were affiliated to the American Federation of Labor (AFL), and in 1896, O'Connell was elected as one of the federation's vice presidents. In 1899, he represented the AFL at the annual Trades Union Congress in England. In addition, from 1901, he served on the executive of the National Civic Federation.[1][2]

From 1908, O'Connell was the president of the Metal Trades Department of the AFL, and in 1911, this became his full-time role. He served on the government Commission on Industrial Relations in 1913, and on the Committee on Labor of the Advisory Commission of the Council of National Defense during World War I.[1][2]

In 1926, O'Connell argued for an end to Prohibition. Two years later, he gave a speech calling for a bar on private profits in the manufacture of armaments. In 1933, he gave a speech calling for the AFL to reorganize on the basis of industrial unions, something later taken up by the Congress of Industrial Organizations.[1]

O'Connell retired in 1935, and died three years later.[1][2]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d e f "James O'Connell, labor leader, dies". New York Times. October 31, 1936.
  2. ^ a b c d The Samuel Gompers Papers. University of Illinois Press. 1986. ISBN 9780252033896.
Trade union offices
Preceded by
John O'Day
President of the International Association of Machinists
1893–1911
Succeeded by
William Hugh Johnston
Preceded by
Department created
President of the Metal Trades Department
1908–1935
Succeeded by
Preceded by American Federation of Labor delegate to the Trades Union Congress
1899
With: Thomas F. Tracy
Succeeded by
J. M. Hunter
Sidney J. Kent
Preceded by Third Vice-President of the American Federation of Labor
1895–1913
Succeeded by
Preceded by Second Vice-President of the American Federation of Labor
1913–1918
Succeeded by