Paddy Kavanagh, the general secretary of Ireland’s Connect Union, called for continued cooperation between his union and the IBEW and paid tribute to Irish immigrants who were instrumental in the U.S. labor movement during a speech to delegates and convention attendees on Tuesday afternoon.
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| Kavanagh told the delegates and others in attendance about Connect’s plans to honor Irish immigrants who were instrumental in the U.S. labor movement.
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“Unions around the world must work together more and more on both a practical and strategic level to deliver for their members and workers generally,” Kavanagh said. “Connect Trade Union is willing to play their part in whatever way they can.”
Kavanagh noted that Connect Union also is working with trade unions in Scandinavia, Italy and Australia on various issues, including on the regulation of Irish contractors working in those countries.
“These work and political issues along with common social issues which affect how our members work and earn their living are what brings us together as workers and trade unionists,” he said.
Connect represents 21 of the 25 recognized crafts in Ireland. It will celebrate its 100th anniversary this year. The actual 100th anniversary was in 2020 but the celebration was postponed for two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
As part of that, Connect will release a booklet in the United States on its history. It also will include a section about the impact Irish immigrants played in the labor movement.
The Library of Congress estimates about 4.5 million Irish citizens immigrated to the United States between 1830 and 1920. P.J. McGuire, a second-generation Irish American, was a co-founder of the American Federation of Labor in 1886. By 1910, nearly half of the AFL’s 110 member unions were led by Irish Americans.
“It is well established that immigrants arrived on these shores determined to make a better life for themselves and party to that was a resolve to create a better society as opposed to the unequal ones they had left behind,” said Kavanagh, thanking Second District International Vice President Mike Monahan and International Representative for Business Development Tiler Eaton for their help on the project.
“One avenue where [the Irish] could have a say and where they could have influence is through the trade union movement as that movement is the true voice for workers,” he said. “I am very proud of the role the Irish have played in the U.S. and here in Chicago. Long may it continue.”
Kavanagh, an electrical engineer by trade, has served as general secretary of Connect since July 2016.