Gerald W. "Jerry" McEntee was an American former union official. From 1981 to 2012, he was the president of the 1.4 million-member American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), the largest union of public employees in the United States and an affiliate of the AFL-CIO. McEntee succeeded Jerry Wurf as AFSCME President in 1981, serving until his retirement 2012.
McEntee is seen by some as the "power behind the throne" in John J. Sweeney's rise to power in the AFL-CIO, and his rivalry with Andy Stern of the SEIU is seen by some as one of the underlying themes in the break between that federation and the Change to Win Federation.
McEntee was born in Philadelphia and attended parochial schools in his youth. He graduated from La Salle University with a degree in political science in 1956. His father, William J. McEntee, was an original organizer and leader of the city's Municipal Workers' Union. In 1957, he began his career as a labor leader by going to work as an organizer for his fathers' union. He worked as a political strategist for the powerful municipal union until 1969. He was elected Executive Director at the founding convention of AFSCME Council 13 in Pennsylvania in 1973 and an International Vice President of AFSCME in 1974. Besides his B.A. from LaSalle, he is also a graduate of the Harvard University's Trade Union Program. A native of Philadelphia, McEntee and his wife Barbara live in Washington, D.C. He is a contributing writer for the Huffington Post. He was a member of the Democratic National Committee and was a "super delegate" in the Pennsylvania 2008 Democratic National Convention delegation.
Jerry's celebration of life was held at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.
Jerry McEntee was my 1st cousin.
McEntee is seen by some as the "power behind the throne" in John J. Sweeney's rise to power in the AFL-CIO, and his rivalry with Andy Stern of the SEIU is seen by some as one of the underlying themes in the break between that federation and the Change to Win Federation.
McEntee was born in Philadelphia and attended parochial schools in his youth. He graduated from La Salle University with a degree in political science in 1956. His father, William J. McEntee, was an original organizer and leader of the city's Municipal Workers' Union. In 1957, he began his career as a labor leader by going to work as an organizer for his fathers' union. He worked as a political strategist for the powerful municipal union until 1969. He was elected Executive Director at the founding convention of AFSCME Council 13 in Pennsylvania in 1973 and an International Vice President of AFSCME in 1974. Besides his B.A. from LaSalle, he is also a graduate of the Harvard University's Trade Union Program. A native of Philadelphia, McEntee and his wife Barbara live in Washington, D.C. He is a contributing writer for the Huffington Post. He was a member of the Democratic National Committee and was a "super delegate" in the Pennsylvania 2008 Democratic National Convention delegation.
Jerry's celebration of life was held at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.
Jerry McEntee was my 1st cousin.
Gerald W. "Jerry" McEntee was an American former union official. From 1981 to 2012, he was the president of the 1.4 million-member American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), the largest union of public employees in the United States and an affiliate of the AFL-CIO. McEntee succeeded Jerry Wurf as AFSCME President in 1981, serving until his retirement 2012.
McEntee is seen by some as the "power behind the throne" in John J. Sweeney's rise to power in the AFL-CIO, and his rivalry with Andy Stern of the SEIU is seen by some as one of the underlying themes in the break between that federation and the Change to Win Federation.
McEntee was born in Philadelphia and attended parochial schools in his youth. He graduated from La Salle University with a degree in political science in 1956. His father, William J. McEntee, was an original organizer and leader of the city's Municipal Workers' Union. In 1957, he began his career as a labor leader by going to work as an organizer for his fathers' union. He worked as a political strategist for the powerful municipal union until 1969. He was elected Executive Director at the founding convention of AFSCME Council 13 in Pennsylvania in 1973 and an International Vice President of AFSCME in 1974. Besides his B.A. from LaSalle, he is also a graduate of the Harvard University's Trade Union Program. A native of Philadelphia, McEntee and his wife Barbara live in Washington, D.C. He is a contributing writer for the Huffington Post. He was a member of the Democratic National Committee and was a "super delegate" in the Pennsylvania 2008 Democratic National Convention delegation.
Jerry's celebration of life was held at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.
Jerry McEntee was my 1st cousin.
McEntee is seen by some as the "power behind the throne" in John J. Sweeney's rise to power in the AFL-CIO, and his rivalry with Andy Stern of the SEIU is seen by some as one of the underlying themes in the break between that federation and the Change to Win Federation.
McEntee was born in Philadelphia and attended parochial schools in his youth. He graduated from La Salle University with a degree in political science in 1956. His father, William J. McEntee, was an original organizer and leader of the city's Municipal Workers' Union. In 1957, he began his career as a labor leader by going to work as an organizer for his fathers' union. He worked as a political strategist for the powerful municipal union until 1969. He was elected Executive Director at the founding convention of AFSCME Council 13 in Pennsylvania in 1973 and an International Vice President of AFSCME in 1974. Besides his B.A. from LaSalle, he is also a graduate of the Harvard University's Trade Union Program. A native of Philadelphia, McEntee and his wife Barbara live in Washington, D.C. He is a contributing writer for the Huffington Post. He was a member of the Democratic National Committee and was a "super delegate" in the Pennsylvania 2008 Democratic National Convention delegation.
Jerry's celebration of life was held at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.
Jerry McEntee was my 1st cousin.
