Terre Haute in Vigo County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Joseph A. Beirne
1911 - 1974
President
Communications Workers of America
1938 - 1974
Joseph Beirne helped found the CWA in 1938, and served as President until 1974, helping develop CWA into the largest communications union in the Nation.
In 1949, when the CWA joined the CIO, he was appointed to the CIO Community Services Committee, and was made Chairman in 1952. He became Chairman of the AFL-CIO’s Community Services Committee in 1955, and of its International Affairs Committee in 1969. He was a member of the AFL-CIO’s Executive Council. He held Presidential Appointments in every Administration since that of F. D. Roosevelt.
His career was filled with numerous awards for his community minded activities, and in 1975, he was Posthumously Accorded the AFL-CIO’s highest honor, The Philip Murray - William Green Award.
Joseph Beirne was one of Labor’s and the Country’s foremost leaders in working for a better America for all.
Erected 1989 by Communications Workers of America, District 4.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Labor Unions . A significant historical year for this entry is 1911.
Location. 39° 28.312′ N, 87° 24.314′ W. Marker is in Terre Haute, Indiana, in Vigo County. Marker can be reached from North 8th Street south of Spruce Street. Located in back-yard of Eugene Debs home (museum). Can be reached by a back access drive from Sycamore Street - west of north 9th Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: (back yard of) 451 North 8th Street, Terre Haute IN 47801, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Jerry Wurf (here, next to this marker); Patrick J. Quinlan (here, next to this marker); William H. Sylvis (here, next to this marker); Walter Philip Reuther (here, next to this marker); Peter J. McGuire (here, next to this marker); Samuel Gompers (here, next to this marker); Michael J. Quill (here, next to this marker); Philip Murray (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Terre Haute.
Also see . . . "Joseph A. Beime of Phone Union Dies". New York Times obituary, September 3, 1974 (Submitted on December 13, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Credits. This page was last revised on November 4, 2022. It was originally submitted on August 18, 2012, by Al Wolf of Veedersburg, Indiana. This page has been viewed 536 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 18, 2012, by Al Wolf of Veedersburg, Indiana. 4. submitted on December 13, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.