Patrick Eiding — photo | Tom Keenan
By Sabina Clarke
Patrick J. Eiding, a leader in the Philadelphia and Pennsylvania labor movement and a voice for workers across the country will receive the Dennis Clark Solas Award from the Welcoming Center for New Pennsylvanians on December 7th.
Some past recipients of the award, named in honor of the late Dennis Clark, a renowned historian and beloved figure in the Philadelphia Irish community are: Mary McAleese, former President of Ireland, Father Daniel Berrigan, actor Martin Sheen, President Vincente Fox of Mexico, Patrick Gillespie, Business Manager of the Philadelphia Building and Construction Trades Council and Wendell Young III, President of UFCW Local 1776.
A longtime resident of Northeast Philadelphia and ardent Phillies fan, Eiding rose through the ranks of the Union as a young tradesman and climbed to the top as president of the Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO representing more than 100 local unions.
Patrick Eiding being interviewed by Sabina Clarke — photo | Tom Keenan
Prior to being elected president in 2002, he served for 25 years as Business Manager and Financial Secretary of the Insulators and Asbestos Workers Local 14 where he had been a member since 1963.
In addition to his duties as AFL-CIO Chief, Eliding represents organized labor on a number of civic boards such as: Philadelphia Area Labor Management Committee (PALM), the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Temple University’s Board of Trustees, the former Comey Labor Institute of St. Joseph’s University, United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania; the Philadelphia Workforce Investment Fund; the Philadelphia Housing Authority; the Philadelphia Planning Commission, the Executive Council of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO; the Philadelphia Building Trades Council; and the National AFL-CIO General Board, while being involved in numerous charitable organizations.
We met in the stately Conference Room of his headquarters at 22nd Street in Philadelphia. As always, Eiding is impeccably groomed and well-prepared.
Wearing a black suit, crisp white shirt and dark green tie, he had a We Are One button on his lapel, the AFL-CIO slogan that has been adopted by workers and non-union workers all over the country.
How do you feel about getting this award?
“I am thrilled to death but it is not something that I expected. I actually did not know about Dennis Clark until I met Anne O’Callaghan and of course when you are acquainted with Anne O’Callaghan, you start to learn a lot of things.”
When did this slogan start?
“It started last February in Wisconsin when Governor Walker took away collective bargaining rights. This brought working people together. We braved the cold to show solidarity for all workers-both union and non-union .We are the last bastion to fight for working people; who else is going to fight for working people. Almost everything we have been involved with such as getting laws passed regarding workman’s compensation, the five day forty hour work week—all that was for all people. When we get laws passed, it is not just for unions it is for everyone. We are fighting to protect unemployment compensation. We are fighting to protect workman’s compensation; this is in the Senate right now”
What are some other battles you have fought?
“We are going after the Governor of Wisconsin for a recall and fighting the guy in Ohio who is sponsoring a bill to take away collective bargaining rights for public workers. Whether we win or not, this sends a tremendous message to the people that these people are not going to be able to do what they want to do.”
How do you feel about the Occupy Philadelphia movement now?
“I still think that it is a worthwhile effort if they get back on message. Our message is clear. We need our members to go to work now. If we put Americans to work, the debt would soon start to decrease. I think the President has not done enough to put people to work. So, Labor and the Occupy movement have a lot in common as far as our message. Here in Philadelphia, the administration has been very friendly with the occupiers. I think labor needs to work with them to get their message back on track. When City Hall closes down, there will be a $50 million dollar project that will put a lot of people to work. So, the occupiers have to think clearly and move to where the City is letting them move. We can’t let this country go on with some folks getting huge bonuses and making millions of dollars and others barely getting by. The American dream is being taken away from us.
Would you say the Occupy movement’s message plays into the Union’s message?
“It certainly gives us an opportunity to have support. We have been categorized as getting smaller and less important. It bothers me that people are taking these jobs to China and selling what they manufacture back here. This is ridiculous. There should be a law that says what is made in America should be sold in America. And some of our trade agreements with other countries should be renegotiated. ”
Is there any other legislation in Pennsylvania you are fighting for now?
“Do you realize that they are pushing a bill through for voter identification that requires a government ID. That would take away students voting rights and some older people. It has already passed the House. The Senate is the only place we have to stop it and no one even realizes that it is going on. It hurts the folks that are going to vote against the Tea Party. So they know what they are doing. We put out a resolution to get the Senate to stop it. We are lobbying right now to stop this. I am lobbying right now with our labor leaders.”
Last summer, Mayor Nutter vetoed a paid sick leave bill passed by City Council; how do feel about his reelection?
“We have a new City Council and that is always good to have new blood. We need to massage the wording in the bill to address the different collective bargaining agreements of different unions. I think there will be enough votes to avoid any veto by the Mayor. Unfortunately, the Mayor disagrees with it but there will be other things that we agree or disagree with. This Mayor has always opened his door to me even though he does not always agree with what I bring through the door. There has never been a public venue where he has not recognized me or the AFL-CIO labor representative. I see with this administration, some bright spots with labor and a consensus for us to come together on some real positive agreements. That will come out before January but I am not at liberty to talk about this now. I think the atmosphere will change and I look forward to some great things in the next four years in the relationship between Labor and the Mayor. Here is a man who came to our Labor Day celebration knowing that he would get booed. I wrote a letter to him thanking him. A lesser man might not come; other politicians might not come. It is easier to come where they clap for you.”
How do you feel about all the money spent on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the impact of this on our domestic economy?
“We were one of the first labor organizations to come out with a resolution against the Iraq war. It was totally unjustified; there was no reason to be there. Now, Obama is being criticized for bringing the troops back home as he had promised. The troops were there when he got there and the deficit was there when Bush left. We have put together a national program called ‘Helmets to Hardhats’ offering jobs in the construction industry to returning veterans. This is a real progressive program that all the unions bought into.”
How do you feel about the Phillies missing out on the World Series?
“Three years ago we had the greatest hitters. I’m sad but I am anxious to see them start again. They all contributed in some way.”
How do you feel about Joe Frazier and do you think the City should do something for him?
“I certainly do. He was the epitome of the working man’s person. My Dad was a boxing fan so I became one. My older brother boxed and I did a little when I was in the service. Joe Frazier and I sat next to each other at a Martin Luther King Day luncheon and I felt like I knew him in just that short time. The luncheon went on for about two hours and we joked about how long it was. What I admired most about him was that he that he never got away from being just a basic guy. You should never forget where you come from and who you are.”