Harry Kelber, labor activist, agitator, journalist, dies at 98

He carried that crusade into criticism of the AFL-CIO’s role in international affairs, criticizing the federation’s traditional willingness to side with the U.S. government on foreign policy – a willingness the AFL-CIO later abandoned when convention delegates agreed with Kelber and U.S. Labor Against The War and openly opposed the GOP Bush government’s war in Iraq.

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Kelber even went so far as to run as an at-large candidate for a seat on the AFL-CIO Executive Council in 1995. The council, which includes union presidents, the fed’s top officials and others elected to serve, traditionally fields an unchallenged slate for re-election at federation conventions. By petitioning his way onto the ballot that year, Kelber forced an election, which he lost.

But it gave him a platform to air the issues he was concerned about: Agitation for activism in the streets, leaders’ accountability and rank-and-file-based democracy. Kelber was stressing those same issues, in a race he admitted he would not win, challenging AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka this year for the fed’s top job.

Kelber started his union career as editor of two weekly labor papers in 1939, according to the Labor Educator’s website. In recent years, he wrote books on organizing and mobilizing and weekly columns on national and international labor issues. Between the two, he was editor of the strike bulletin during the 114-day 1962-63 New York City newspaper strike.

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Kelber’s other past union affiliations included service as education and cultural director of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 3, coordinator of the trade union leadership institute of the New York City Central Labor Council, director of a 2-year labor-liberal arts program at Cornell University’s New York City branch, and as a former member of the Communications Workers.

A memorial service will be held in May or June, The Labor Educator said.

Mark Gruenberg writes for Press Associates, Inc., news service. Used by permission.

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