Michael Fox (unionist)

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Michael Fox (1900 or 1901 – June 11, 1978) was a Scottish-born American labor union leader.

Born in Scotland, Fox completed an apprenticeship as an electrician, and joined the Labour Party and a trade union. In 1924, he emigrated to the United States, settling in New York City. There, he worked as an electrician on construction projects, before, in 1927, moving to work for the New York Central Railroad. This led him to join the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.[1]

Fox served successively as secretary, president, and chairman of his local union. During World War II, he served on the War Manpower Commission, and he also developed an apprenticeship scheme for the railroad.[1]

In 1946, Fox was appointed as assistant to the president of the Railway Employes' Department of the American Federation of Labor (AFL). He was elected as secretary-treasurer of the department in 1949, and then as president in 1961. From 1951, he also served as vice chairman of the Railway Labor Executives Association. He retired in 1969, and died nine years later.[1][2]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "'Mike' Fox passes at 77; long a rail labor leader". Labor. Vol. 60, no. 9. July 5, 1978.
  2. ^ "Michael Fox". Chicago Tribune. June 13, 1978.
Trade union offices
Preceded by
J. M. Burns
Secretary-Treasurer of the Railway Employes' Department
1949–1961
Succeeded by
Howard Pickett
Preceded by
Fred N. Aten
President of the Railway Employes' Department
1961–1969
Succeeded by
James E. Yost
Preceded by American Federation of Labor delegate to the Trades Union Congress
1955
With: C. J. Haggerty
Succeeded by