Harry Van Arsdale, Jr. : Labor's Champion Hardback

Harry Van Arsdale (1905-1986) was a towering figure in the New York labor scene.

After being initiated into the Local 3 International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers in 1925 and becoming its business manager in 1933, Van Arsdale turned the then corrupt and disorganized union into a force to be reckoned with.

He became president of the New York City Central Labor Council in 1957, which put him in a position to become a greater influence for labor relations locally and nationally.

As business manager and president of these organizations, Van Arsdale advocated and won shorter work days, in order to give more men a chance to work - especially important in the 1930s.

He instituted paid vacation, paid holidays, annuity plans, and educational opportunities for union workers - novelties at that time - as well as scholarships for workers' children.

His sincere commitment to improving the lives of American workers and their families made him a truly beloved figure.

This fascinating memoir traces Van Arsdale's sixty-plus years as a union member and powerful labor figure, and provides colorful details of his many remarkable accomplishments.