New York, NY – William M. Lynn is Business Manager & Financial Secretary, IUOE Local 30, International Vice-President, International Union of Operating Engineers. The union has been in existence for over 80 years, representing the best of New York and Connecticut’s engineers. The members work in the engineering rooms of such iconic buildings as the Empire State Building, the Museum of Modern Art, CitiField, Yankee Stadium, Madison Square Garden, and in CT, the Hartford Capitol Building. Perhaps the greatest in terms of significance is the Statue of Liberty, symbolizing America’s commitment to freedom and the inscribed poetry welcoming all who seek refuge in our great country.
Local 30 members are trained to stay ahead of the technological curve. They control the most complex and challenging power and facility maintenance systems in the region.
Local 30 negotiates agreements, and establishes living wages, a difficult task in this time of rampant inflation. Family sustaining benefits a dignified retirement, and safety work rules are also maintained and fought for through the work of the union. They organize workers in the industry, and create a voice for operating engineers.
A second-generation Local 30 member, William Lynn’s early involvement with the union began when he joined Local 30 in 1990 as an apprentice at a waste to energy power plant, completed his apprenticeship, and then rose to mechanic followed by engineer. He was active on the shop floor, expert in the trade, and led union-wide campaigns. This led into his first leadership role, when he began to serve as a union Shop Steward.
LaborPress was able to find out more about his history in the union, his motivations, and what matters most to him in his union work.
LP: Can you share examples of your leadership in union-wide campaigns that led you to serve as Shop Steward? What years did these occur?
WL: I served as a Shop Steward for ten years beginning in 1994. I was driven to be a Shop Steward because I wanted to make sure that my brother and sister members at my jobsite were able to experience the full benefit of belonging to Local 30. It was important to me to make sure that they were represented at the jobsite and our needs were accurately expressed to our Business Representative and management during negotiations. As Shop Steward I made sure that my union family knew of the events that Local 30 would host and cultivate a community of Local 30 members.
LP: What motivated you to become involved in union leadership?
WL: I was and continue to be very passionate about the Labor Movement and how beneficial it is to working people. I was motivated to become involved in union leadership so that I would be able to play a bigger role in the Movement and work toward even better and safer working conditions for union members. I wanted to make a difference in the lives of my fellow Local 30 members by being their voice in the wider community and adding strength to working families through health and pension benefits.
LP: You are a second generation Local 30 member. Can you tell us more about that?
WL: My parents left Ireland and immigrated to America with three of my sisters before I was born. My father worked hard to support his wife and eight children. He joined Local 30 and valued union membership. Throughout his career my father, James, worked long days and was proud of the work he did. It was instilled in us at a young age the value of hard work and being part of an organization that would look out for you.
LP: When did you become Lead Organizer, and what were some campaigns you worked on, and their results?
WL: I became Lead Organizer in 2006 and was anxious to get out and start growing Local 30. I focused on expanding our membership throughout the state of Connecticut. I successfully organized Foxwoods Casino, bringing in hundreds of members after a long and difficult campaign with the workers at Foxwoods and the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation. I was also successful in organizing the Town of Shelton yet again increasing our presence in Connecticut and opening the door for workers living in that area to become part of our union.
LP: Aside from serving as Business Manager & Financial Secretary, IUOE Local 30,
International Vice-President, International Union of Operating Engineers, you serve in many other positions, including Trustee of the IUOE New York State Conference and Recording-Corresponding Secretary of the IUOE New York City Coalition, and hold leadership positions in labor organizations such as the Municipal Labor Council, and the New York State Public Employee Conference, among others. What motivated you to expand your contribution through further involvements?
WL: I serve on many Labor committees and boards throughout the region. I want to make sure that I am part of the bigger discussion within the Labor Movement and to ensure that the interests and rights of IUOE Local 30 members are always being protected and taken into consideration. My motivation is really to give Local 30 members a voice and a seat at the table. My goal is to make working conditions better for every union member.
LP: As Business Manager/Financial Secretary, and International VP, what are your main concerns as regards the members?
WL: My main concerns are always and will always be IUOE Local 30 members and their families. I want to work to make sure that Local 30 members have safe working environments, earn enough money to support their families, have benefits to keep their families healthy and are able to enjoy a dignified retirement. As an International Vice President I am able to represent Local 30 members and also take place in national discussions impacting all union members. My goal as an International Vice President is to make working conditions better for all workers in the Labor Movement. We have a state of the art Training Center in Texas so our members are highly educated and skilled making them valuable assets to the Trade Movement.
LP: What would you like to see for the union in the future?
WL: I would like to see IUOE Local 30 continue to grow and expand. We are evolving through training and organizing. Each new jobsite and new member adds another layer of strength to the organization as a whole. We will move forward and adapt to changing technologies and guidelines so that there will be a Local 30 for future generations to carry on. We are a family, not just a union hall. We work together, we fight together we grow together – that will never change. and I am excited to see how future generations build on the work we have done.
