John F. O'Donnell

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John F. O'Donnell (died 1993) was an Irish-born 20th-century American "leading labor lawyer" who represented the national Transport Workers Union (TWU) (now Transport Workers Union of America) and American Postal Workers Union (APWU) and also "played a central role in New York City's transit strikes" from the 1930s to the 1980s.[1]

Background[edit]

O'Donnell was born in Donegal, Ireland. He had four brothers and three sisters. His support for the Irish Republican Army led to run-ins with British authorities, so he moved to New York City at age 20.[1]

He studied first at City College of New York (CCNY) and then earned a law degree from Fordham University in 1937. He attended night classes. By day, he worked variously as elevator operator, grocery clerk, teacher of delinquents, and editorial writer for The Irish Echo.[1]

Career[edit]

In the 1930s, O'Donnell became aide and friend to (then) City Councilman Michael J. Quill, who went on to co-found the Transport Workers Union and became its president.[1]

In the fall of 1938, O'Donnell was a Socialist Party of America candidate for what was then the Sixth District of The Bronx.[2]

O'Donnell & Schwartz[edit]

In 1948 he and Asher Schwartz[3] formed a law partnership in Manhattan (and in 1981 formed an affiliated law firm in Washington), for labor law and union clients.[1][4]

Over the years, he partook in many "tense" transit negotiations, including the 11-day 1980 New York City transit strike.[1]

In 1990, O'Donnell was still serving as general counsel to the Transport Workers Union, as indicated in his letter of December 18, 1990, to The New York Times, in which he voiced support for a strike by the New York Daily News "wholeheartedly."[5]

Clients[edit]

O'Donnell served as general counsel for the Transport Workers Union from 1948. He also served as top lawyer for the American Postal Workers Union. Other clients included: International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers - Utilities Division - Local 3, Communications Workers of America - Locals 1101 and 1105, and Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Workers Union - Local 1S.[1] (Schwartz served as counsel to the Newspaper and Mail Deliverers Union of New York and vicinity.[6][7])

Successes[edit]

Successes for the firm included:

  • 1950: Helped win $1.1 million in back pay for workers on the old Third Avenue Railway.[1]
  • 1953: Helped win a five-day, 40-hour work week in a 28-day strike of eight bus lines.[1]
  • 1980: Helped win TWU a 9% raise in first year and 8% in second year, plus cost-of-living adjustment

1980 New York City transit strike[edit]

See 1980 New York City transit strike

As chief counsel, O'Donnell represented Local 100 of the Transport Workers Union during negotiations with the New York Transit Authority when Ed Koch was mayor of New York City. The strike had grown out of problems unresolved in the 1970s, largely over wages and the right (or not) to strike at all.[8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18]

During the strike, O'Donnell stated:

(The TWU's "no contract no work policy") isn't set in concrete. The union has to adopt to changing circumstances and a changing world. The no contract, no work policy was adopted at a time when we had a lot of private employers and it never was carried out in every instance ... (Still), we would have as much right to strike as before.[19]

He also noted that TWU had never held any "right" to strike because, in New York, strikes by public employees are illegal.[19] (Partner Schwartz also addressed the issue of right to strike by public employees and to collective bargaining.[20])

Members[edit]

In 1972, members of the law firm included: O'Donnell, partner Ashter W. Schwartz,[3] Michael Klein, Robert J. Dryfoos, George Maxwell, Sylvan Schwartz, Elaine LoSquadro, Joan Siegel, Nancy Harber, and Phyllis Longhi[21]

Another member was Manlio DiPreta, who started his career with O'Donnell & Schwartz and negotiated three key contracts with New York's Transit Authority in the 1990s.[22]

Personal and death[edit]

O'Donnell married Gwendolyn Large. They had one son and three daughters.[1]

"Mr. O'Donnell was known among labor insiders for his gargantuan cigars, Irish brogue, meticulous preparation and articulate presentation," reported The New York Times at his time of death.[1]

He died of cancer at Northern Westchester Hospital in Mount Kisco, New York, on January 28, 1993.[1] His wife Gwynne died in 2004.[23]

Legacy[edit]

Theodore W. Kheel, labor mediator, said of O'Donnell: "Some people specialize in problems, but he always was looking for the solutions."[1]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Lambert, Bruce (29 January 1993). "John F. O'Donnell, 85, a Lawyer And Advocate for Union Workers". The New York Times. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  2. ^ "Political Slates Are Shifted Here". The New York Times. 24 August 1938. p. 12. Retrieved 24 November 2019.
  3. ^ a b "Deaths Scwhartz, Ashter W." The New York Times. 22 March 2006. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  4. ^ "Overview". O'Donnell, Schwartz & Anderson, PC. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  5. ^ O'Donnell, John F. (31 December 1990). "Mike Quill Would Support Daily News Strike Wholeheartedly". The New York Times. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  6. ^ "National Labor Relations Board, Petitioner, v. Newspaper & Mail Deliverers' Union of New York & Vicinity, Independent, Respondent, 246 F.2d 62 (3d Cir. 1957)". Justia. 1957. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  7. ^ "The Times Is Granted Extension Of Order Restraining Its Drivers". The New York Times. 20 December 1970. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  8. ^ "Kheel Unavailable To Aid in Mediating City's Transit Pact". The New York Times. 2 December 1971. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  9. ^ "Air Travel Here Disrupted As 3 Lines Are Picketed". The New York Times. 7 December 1973. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  10. ^ "T.W.U. Starts to Present Its Case for Pay Raises". The New York Times. 20 March 1974. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  11. ^ "Transit Union Says Law Allows Living‐Cost Raise". The New York Times. 27 April 1976. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  12. ^ "Transit Agency Still Pays Banned Living‐Cost Raises". The New York Times. 7 May 1976. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  13. ^ "Talks Continuing on Transit Pact". The New York Times. 12 May 1976. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  14. ^ "Transit Union Voids Vote on Pact". The New York Times. 26 April 1978. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  15. ^ "City and Unions Bargain Into the Night". The New York Times. 19 May 1978. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  16. ^ "Union Chief to Seek a 30% Pay Rise in Transit Pact". The New York Times. 3 September 1979. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  17. ^ "Judge Forestalls City Bus Tie-Up Over Schedules". The New York Times. 10 September 1981. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  18. ^ "The New York Times". 31 March 1982. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  19. ^ a b "Transit Union Offers Plan to Drop Its 'No Contract, No Work' Policy". The New York Times. 13 August 1981. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  20. ^ Schwartz, Arthur W. (13 January 1972). "Letters to the Editor". The New York Times. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  21. ^ "Obituary: Levine, Nathan L.". The New York Times. 30 January 1972. p. 52.
  22. ^ "Union Mourns Manlio DiPreta, Longtime Attorney for the TWU". TWU Local 100. 2016. Retrieved 3 August 2017.
  23. ^ "Deaths: O'Donnell, Gwynne (nee Large)". The New York Times. 14 May 2004. Retrieved 6 August 2017.

External sources[edit]

  • Tamiment Library: Guide to the Transport Workers Union of America Records WAG.235
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