Cornelius Joseph "Neil" Haggerty (January 10, 1894 – October 10, 1971) was an American labor union leader. He served as President of the

California Labor Federation The California Labor Federation is a federation of labor unions in the U.S. state of California. It is an affiliate of the AFL–CIO. Founded in 1901 as the California State Federation of Labor, the CLF has grown to encompass over 1,300 unions ...

from 1937 to 1943, then as Executive Secretary-Treasurer from 1943 to 1960. Born in

Boston Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...

, Haggerty worked briefly as a singer before completing an apprenticeship as a lather. He joined the Wood, Wire and Metal Lathers' International Union in 1915. He served in the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...

during

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, then returned to lathing, moving to

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

in 1921. Haggerty began working full-time for his union as an organizer on the West Coast, later becoming a vice-president of the union. In 1933, he was elected as president of the Los Angeles Building and Construction Trades Council. He became president of the Californian State Federation of Labor in 1937, and then secretary in 1943. During

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, Haggerty served on the

War Manpower Commission The War Manpower Commission was a World War II agency of the United States Government charged with planning to balance the labor needs of agriculture, industry and the armed forces. History The Commission was created by President Franklin D. R ...

, and the executives of the

Office of Price Administration The Office of Price Administration (OPA) was established within the Office for Emergency Management of the United States government by Executive Order 8875 on August 28, 1941. The functions of the OPA were originally to control money ( price con ...

and the Civil Defense Council. In 1960, he became president of the Building and Construction Trade Department of the

AFL-CIO The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) is a national trade union center that is the largest federation of unions in the United States. It is made up of 61 national and international unions, together r ...

, in which role he often came into conflict with Walter P. Reuther. He opposed wage controls, and argued for the training of more black construction workers. He retired in 1970. Haggerty also served on the Californian State Board of Education. He died in 1971.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Haggerty, C. J. 1894 births 1971 deaths American trade union leaders Activists from Boston Trade unionists from Massachusetts