In the spotlight: Charles O’Leary

On the occasion of the first Labor Day of a new decade, most labor leaders probably are happy that the 1980s are over.

After all, the 1980s started with former President Ronald Reagan effectively breaking the air traffic controllers union and rendering strikes ineffective. By the end of the decade, in Maine and elsewhere, hundreds of replacement workers held jobs formerly held by union members.

As the head of organized labor in Maine, Charles O’Leary is quick to admit that labor has gone through a difficult period. But the man who serves as president of the Maine AFL-CIO is by no means apologetic for what might be seen as an ineffective decade for labor.

To the contrary, he says that labor can be proud of its record.

“People forget that all of the gains by labor in the 20th century came as a result of organized labor,” O’Leary said. “I’m talking about things like Social Security, the eight-hour workday, Workers’ Compensation, paid vacations and holidays, and benefits packages in general.

“None of these things would have occurred without organized labor,” he said. “And I don’t think we’re taught that in school.”

O’Leary says that his organization helps a lot more than the 16 or 17 percent of Maine’s work force that belongs to unions.

“Organized labor sets the standards in the workplace,” he said. “We provide the benchmark and other (non-union) companies come up to the benchmark so they can compete for workers.

“People forget that,” O’Leary said. “Some people think that benefits came to workers because of the goodness of employers. We see that thinking in our membership. Some workers don’t know what their fathers and grandfathers went through to get these things.

“People also say there was a period that we needed unions but we don’t need them now,” he said. “I think that’s bologna.”

O’Leary says that labor in Maine faces a “three-headed dragon,” which includes plant closings, takeovers and defense cutbacks.

“Everyone who works is very conscious of job security,” he said. “And union members fear replacement workers in the workplace.”

In addition to these areas that affect job security, O’Leary says that the provision of health insurance is foremost on the minds of Maine workers.

“Health insurance is the first thing we talk about at the bargaining table,” O’Leary said. “Once that is taken care of, we think about wages.”

According to O’Leary, discrimination against workers and the abuse of workers are as prevalent now as they ever have been.

“People shouldn’t be fired unfairly or without just cause,” O’Leary said.

But despite what O’Leary says is a strong need for organized labor, he says that it is hard for labor to organize today. As a percentage of total workers, union membership has declined during recent years.

“But from my perspective, this isn’t something that should be a concern for our organization,” O’Leary said.

Instead, he says, organized labor must be concerned about being vigilant in the protection of workers. “We must be vigilant in the Legislature to make sure that industrial safety and occupational health are properly addressed,” he said.

The Maine AFL-CIO’s mission is carried out by eight full-time employees and an annual budget of about $250,000. The money comes from member unions in the state.

“We’re one of the few state federations that has a good-sized staff,” O’Leary said.

In addition to being well-staffed, O’Leary says that labor organizations in Maine are clean. Nationwide, situations like the Teamsters union being linked to organized crime have hurt the labor movement.

“I have never seen anything that would ever smack of wrongdoing in Maine,” O’Leary said. “It just hasn’t been a reality for us.

“People who are narrow-minded and want to strike out at labor, for whatever reasons, find that a convenient whipping stick. But if you look at the state of Maine, it’s not a viable weapon.”

O’Leary has been head of Maine’s labor movement since 1979. It’s clearly a job he likes. Scheduled events can result in him working 14 straight days at times, he said. “I can get pretty tired after spells like that,” he said.

When his schedule permits, he likes to get outdoors. He particulary enjoys hiking and golf.