Intelligencer

Sinn Fein Fan to Head AFL/CIO ?

The New York Times reported on Tuesday that John Sweeney, head of the AFL/CIO, is in a tough battle to be re-elected as leader of the American labor movement because of discontent in the ranks.

The discontent is being led by a former Sweeney protégé, Andrew Stern, head of the powerful Service Employees International Union (SEIU) who believes Sweeney has neglected the prime mission of the labor movement. Stern says the AFL should place a renewed emphasis on recruiting new members.

Stern himself will not challenge Sweeney, who says he has enough votes for re-election. Interestingly, one of the names mentioned as a possible challenger is Joe O’Sullivan, head of the International Laborer’s Union and a very well known figure in the Irish American community.

O’Sullivan is a committed supporter of Friends of Sinn Fein (FOSF) and has ensured that the union he represents attends most, if not all, of the FOSF events across the United States.

Someone like O’Sullivan in power would be a powerful boost for FOSF, especially at a time when they are under added scrutiny because of IRA alleged actions in Ireland.

However, Sweeney, 71, is a doughty warrior who originally won the job from another Irish American labor leader, Tom Donahue, in a bitter succession battle. On a personal level, Sweeney, son of an Irish immigrant who was a bus cleaner from the Bronx, has a low key and understated style which has made him very popular.

The major problem he faces is that Stern now says if Sweeney does not step aside, the SEIU may well leave the AFL/CIO, as may other leading unions. Union membership, at just 8% of the workforce, is at an all-time low and the crisis is obvious. It will be interesting to see if Sweeney is able to turn back the challenge.

Spitzer’s Old Job

Denise O’Donnell from Buffalo is running very hard to become New York’s next attorney general, replacing Eliot Spitzer, who will be running for governor.

Under Spitzer, of course, the job has become greatly enhanced. It is impossible to hold any conversation about corporate corruption these days without Spitzer’s name coming up, and he is odds on to become governor.

O’Donnell has a good shot at replacing him. Though the field is full of well-known names such as Mark Green, the former mayoral candidate in New York and Andrew Cuomo, formerly secretary for Housing and Urban Development, O’Donnell is the only one who has actual prosecutorial experience.

She was the U.S. attorney in upstate New York from 1997 to 2001. Her most famous case involved her role in the prosecution of Buffalo native Timothy McVeigh for the Oklahoma City bombing.

O’Donnell is also the only candidate from upstate, with all the others seeking the Democratic nomination coming from the city. There is also a sense that Green and Cuomo, while big names, are merely looking at the job as a consolation prize for other more high-powered positions they lost out on.

Besides, she is the only woman in the race which will undoubtedly help her with the female vote. In addition, O’Donnell’s husband John is an elected State Supreme Court Justice.

Whoever wins the Democratic nomination — and there are six candidates so far — will have a huge leg up in the general election with Spitzer at the top of the ticket.

Republicans appear to be relying on the Westchester DA Jeanine Pirro, who is a frequent guest on many of the gabfests on television, discussing the latest trial de jour. Pirro, however, has major problems because of her husband who has served a term in prison for tax evasion.

Either way, though, the race is not until November 2006, and already a slew of candidates have begun campaigning. O’Donnell believes she has a real shot. “I’m going to be a formidable candidate,” she said last week during a stop off at the Irish Voice office. No one can doubt that with her background and credentials.

Mr. Guinness Retires

For three and a half decades, the name Connie Doolan has been synonymous with Guinness, and the Cork native has become one of the best-known figures in the Irish American community during that time.

Indeed, Doolan’s work on behalf of the community was recognized when he was named grand marshal of the St. Patrick’s Parade back in 1992.

Doolan has also involved himself in countless community causes, such as helping arriving immigrants, supporting Gaelic games in New York, working with many charitable organizations, and being a mainstay of his beloved Co. Cork Association.

Most of all he was a fountain of sound advice for any arriving immigrant or Irish organization looking for direction.

Doolan is now planning his well-deserved retirement, and there will be a major celebration of his life and work at the end of June in New York City. After so many years as the public face of Guinness and the ambassador in the Irish community, he is moving on.

He will be missed. Let us hope the company understands just how important he was to their success.

Time to End Games?

New-York was hammered by Galway at Gaelic Park last Sunday. A year ago it was Mayo who took the New York team apart. No doubt Roscommon will be far too good next year.

More and more it seems the question is whether it is worthwhile having the local lads take on teams from Ireland which are amateur in name only and have become close to full time professionals.

There is no joy in seeing all the hard work of the New York mentors, supporters and players on the exiles team be so poorly rewarded. Perhaps the solution is to have New York play at a lesser level, perhaps play the junior champions of Ireland, rather than have them suffer these heavy defeats which the dedicated players, officials and managers hardly deserve.