Less than four days after his tirade at the AFL-CIO Building Trades legislative conference, Painters President Michael E. Monroe resigned. The union executive board elected Secretary-Treasurer James A. Williams on April 18 to succeed him.
The board then elected George Galis, the president's representative in Pittsburgh, as Secretary-Treasurer.
Williams, 52, started in the union with Glaziers Local 252 in his native Philadelphia after returning from active duty in Vietnam in 1971, becoming local president in 1975.
Both Williams and Monroe are from long-time Painters families. Williams' father and late brother, Ralph, were local union officials. Monroe succeeded his father, A.L. "Mike" Monroe, in the Painters presidency in 1995, the same year Williams became international Secretary-Treasurer.
Williams' elevation to the top job came after Monroe lashed out at Building Trades President Edward C. Sullivan, following Sullivan's keynote address to the conference on April 15 about the trades' legislative successes.
A contingent of approximately 150 Painters interrupted Sullivan's speech with boos. Painters from that group said Monroe was dissatisfied by lack of progress in talks about bringing back the Carpenters. Sullivan's ouster is one of Carpenters President Douglas McCarron's demands.
In his tirade, Monroe claimed Sullivan took credit for wins he had nothing to do with and called him a 'phony son of a bitch.' Monroe announced he would run against Sullivan.
But Monroe's replacement by Williams throws his campaign plans against Sullivan into question. The election is not for another 3-1/2 years.
Upon his elevation, Williams promptly asked Monroe to serve as his Counselor. Monroe accepted. He also took an unspecified AFL-CIO post. Monroe's duties in both posts have yet to be worked out, a Painters spokesman said.
Williams, who headed the Painters' political efforts during the 2000 campaign, vowed to continue that effort. He also vowed to push recruitment, organizing, training and health and safety.
'My top priority will be communicating with the local membership. I want to go to local meetings and hear what they have to say,' Williams said in a statement.
This article was written by Press Associates, Inc., news service. Used by permission.
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Less than four days after his tirade at the AFL-CIO Building Trades legislative conference, Painters President Michael E. Monroe resigned. The union executive board elected Secretary-Treasurer James A. Williams on April 18 to succeed him.
The board then elected George Galis, the president’s representative in Pittsburgh, as Secretary-Treasurer.
Williams, 52, started in the union with Glaziers Local 252 in his native Philadelphia after returning from active duty in Vietnam in 1971, becoming local president in 1975.
Both Williams and Monroe are from long-time Painters families. Williams’ father and late brother, Ralph, were local union officials. Monroe succeeded his father, A.L. “Mike” Monroe, in the Painters presidency in 1995, the same year Williams became international Secretary-Treasurer.
Williams’ elevation to the top job came after Monroe lashed out at Building Trades President Edward C. Sullivan, following Sullivan’s keynote address to the conference on April 15 about the trades’ legislative successes.
A contingent of approximately 150 Painters interrupted Sullivan’s speech with boos. Painters from that group said Monroe was dissatisfied by lack of progress in talks about bringing back the Carpenters. Sullivan’s ouster is one of Carpenters President Douglas McCarron’s demands.
In his tirade, Monroe claimed Sullivan took credit for wins he had nothing to do with and called him a ‘phony son of a bitch.’ Monroe announced he would run against Sullivan.
But Monroe’s replacement by Williams throws his campaign plans against Sullivan into question. The election is not for another 3-1/2 years.
Upon his elevation, Williams promptly asked Monroe to serve as his Counselor. Monroe accepted. He also took an unspecified AFL-CIO post. Monroe’s duties in both posts have yet to be worked out, a Painters spokesman said.
Williams, who headed the Painters’ political efforts during the 2000 campaign, vowed to continue that effort. He also vowed to push recruitment, organizing, training and health and safety.
‘My top priority will be communicating with the local membership. I want to go to local meetings and hear what they have to say,’ Williams said in a statement.
This article was written by Press Associates, Inc., news service. Used by permission.
Related article