Career Brian M. McLaughlin

1 career

1.1 electrician work , higher education
1.2 politics

1.2.1 democratic district leader
1.2.2 new york state assembly
1.2.3 mayoral ambitions


1.3 labor council

career
electrician work , higher education

mclaughlin started career journeyman electrician. belonged local 3 of international brotherhood of electrical workers , 1 of union s business representatives. @ union meeting, met labor leader harry van arsdale, jr., head of clc, become mentor. van arsdale came out of local 3 of ibew, long politically active building trades union in new york . mr. van arsdale convinced mclaughlin job unionized electrician , college degree not incompatible, , persuaded him attend night school.

while mclaughlin working electrician, attended empire state college of state university of new york , graduated b.s. attended new york institute of technology, earned master s degree in industrial labor relations. later said @ time worked on honing leadership qualities.

according new york times, van arsdale tutored mr. mclaughlin on ins , outs of labor politics , electoral politics. in 1981, van arsdale gave ambitious young electrician huge responsibility – organize first labor day parade in city in decades.

eventually mclaughlin left electrician job , went work clc.

politics

in 2003, mclaughlin quoted happenstance of being politician, saying entered politics quite accident... don t particularly politics, , have no ego it, quite frankly... guess of s disproportionately influenced money. in end, s process have limited opportunity champion , better situation of people elected you. , if don t have determination, s unfriendly process.

democratic district leader

mclaughlin, according new york times, drafted running democratic district leader in 1986 queens democratic party in disrepair after suicide of donald r. manes; won 86 votes.

new york state assembly

in 1992, mclaughlin elected new york state assembly 25th assembly district, covers portion of eastern queens. served chairman of democratic conference , sat on influential ways , means committee. while in assembly, author of sharps bill, designed prevent workplace injuries in health-care industry. mclaughlin remembered not particularly high-profile legislator; of influence exerted union chief. february 2002 report noted st. ann’s athletic association in flushing had received $4,000 mclaughlin uniforms, equipment, , facilities, appropriation had introduced 1999 state budget. mclaughlin stated, studies have shown when kids play sports less use drugs , in trouble, , more stay in school.

mayoral ambitions

in 2003, there speculation of possible mclaughlin run new york mayor s office in 2005 election. october 2003, had raised on $1 million of campaign funds possible run.

labor council

during mclaughlin s tenure @ council on new york city labor, served assistant son of first president of organization, thomas van arsdale. in 1986, van arsdale s father, harry van arsdale, jr., died, , assumed father s position in organization president.

the labor council today reigns largest municipal labor council in country, federation 400 union locals , on 1 million members.

in june 1995, mclaughlin succeeded van arsdale president of clc in landslide election; thomas van arsdale floundered in position , mclaughlin charged re-energizing council.

the labor council represents laborers wide range of industries , enterprises. union locals belong organization represent workers ranging public school teachers crane operators employees @ bronx zoo, council s main responsibilities coordinating various unions political activities , placing labor’s overall weight behind individual unions during organizing drives , strikes.

mclaughlin recognized number of achievements during tenure @ clc. among influential labor leaders in new york city , in state, providing pivotal support mayor michael r. bloomberg s re-election , supporting failed effort build football stadium on far west side of manhattan. led fight keep wal-mart out of city , lent strong support transit workers during 2005 strike. mclaughlin had been courted not mayor, bishops, corporate ceos , real estate magnates, emerging major player in of biggest municipal battles of 2006, including transit strike , west side stadium fight.

as head of labor council, mclaughlin led annual labor day parade. in 2001, praised selection of united federation of teachers president randi weingarten grand marshal of year s parade. throughout years, labor has focused on issues - eight-hour workday, livable minimum wage, protection of social security. year our attention on need quality public schools... randi weingarten has not been outstanding labor leader in city. in time [sic] teacher bashing , finger-pointing, has been beacon in fighting teachers , students.

on october 4, 2003, new york chairman of immigrant workers freedom ride, mclaughlin presided on rally of 100,000 immigrants , supporters @ flushing meadows-corona park , spoke illegal-immigrant workers: labor movement placed redefine around needs of need labor union.

in 2004, mclaughlin protested mayor bloomberg’s fiscal austerity, saying, time invest in our public employees have not let down... years of privatization , productivity schemes city hall have gotten nowhere.

in 2006, after mclaughlin s indictment, defended accomplishments; labor leaders credited him reinvigorating central labor council in city unions once far more powerful. 1 of many local labor leaders praise mclaughlin during indictment, notably randi weingarten, president of united federation of teachers: brian took on central labor council when @ lowest point in terms of power, prestige , stature , made important institution again... 1 of big strengths if re in fight s unpopular, ll stand you.