Thomas Ventry O'Connor (August 9, 1870 – October 17, 1935) was a Canadian-born American labor union leader.
Born in Toronto, Ontario, O'Connor moved to Buffalo, New York when he was 12 years old. He became a fireman on a tugboat, rising to become a marine engineer. In 1906, he was elected as president of the Licensed Tugmen's Protective Association of the Great Lakes, and then in 1908, as president of the International Longshoremen's Association.[1][2]
As president of the union, O'Connor ran recruitment drives on the East Coast.[2] He tended to oppose strike action, but led the union through a lengthy strike in 1919. By this point, many in the union wanted more militant leadership.[1]
O'Connor was a supporter of the Republican Party. In 1921, Warren G. Harding offered him the post of Assistant Secretary of Labor, which he rejected. However, in June, he accepted a seat on the United States Shipping Board, resigning his union post. He became vice-chair of the board, and then in 1924 was appointed as its chair. As chair, he was seen to favor the interests of shipping companies over those of sailors and longshoremen.[1][2]
In 1933, F. D. Roosevelt was elected, and did not reappoint O'Connor to the Shipping Board. O'Connor's record was investigated by a Senate committee, which found that he had shown favoritism in awarding subsidies and selling government ships to some companies, had spent extravagantly, and that board members had accepted favors from some companies. O'Connor continued to deny the charges until his death, in 1935.[3][4]
Referencesedit
^ abcBlume, Kenneth (2012). Historical Dictionary of the U.S. Maritime Industry. Scarecrow Press. ISBN9780810856349.
^ abc"Shipping: a chair refilled". TIME. February 18, 1924. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
^"T. V. O'Connor dies; ex-head of U.S. Shipping". Chicago Tribune. October 18, 1935.
^"T. V. O'Connor dead; headed ships' board". New York Times. October 18, 1935.
thomas, connor, thomas, ventry, connor, august, 1870, october, 1935, canadian, born, american, labor, union, leader, born, toronto, ontario, connor, moved, buffalo, york, when, years, became, fireman, tugboat, rising, become, marine, engineer, 1906, elected, p. Thomas Ventry O Connor August 9 1870 October 17 1935 was a Canadian born American labor union leader Born in Toronto Ontario O Connor moved to Buffalo New York when he was 12 years old He became a fireman on a tugboat rising to become a marine engineer In 1906 he was elected as president of the Licensed Tugmen s Protective Association of the Great Lakes and then in 1908 as president of the International Longshoremen s Association 1 2 As president of the union O Connor ran recruitment drives on the East Coast 2 He tended to oppose strike action but led the union through a lengthy strike in 1919 By this point many in the union wanted more militant leadership 1 O Connor was a supporter of the Republican Party In 1921 Warren G Harding offered him the post of Assistant Secretary of Labor which he rejected However in June he accepted a seat on the United States Shipping Board resigning his union post He became vice chair of the board and then in 1924 was appointed as its chair As chair he was seen to favor the interests of shipping companies over those of sailors and longshoremen 1 2 In 1933 F D Roosevelt was elected and did not reappoint O Connor to the Shipping Board O Connor s record was investigated by a Senate committee which found that he had shown favoritism in awarding subsidies and selling government ships to some companies had spent extravagantly and that board members had accepted favors from some companies O Connor continued to deny the charges until his death in 1935 3 4 References edit a b c Blume Kenneth 2012 Historical Dictionary of the U S Maritime Industry Scarecrow Press ISBN 9780810856349 a b c Shipping a chair refilled TIME February 18 1924 Retrieved 10 March 2023 T V O Connor dies ex head of U S Shipping Chicago Tribune October 18 1935 T V O Connor dead headed ships board New York Times October 18 1935 Trade union officesPreceded byDaniel Keefe President of the International Longshoremen s Association1908 1921 Succeeded byAnthony ChlopekPreceded bySamuel GompersJohn P FreyBernard A Larger American Federation of Labor delegate to the Trades Union Congress1910 With William Bauchop Wilson Succeeded byDaniel J TobinWilliam B Macfarlane Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Thomas V O 27Connor amp oldid 1167337140, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
