The AFL-CIO Executive Council mourns the passing of our brother and friend, retired International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (BAC) President John Flynn.
Flynn began his career in the trade union movement in 1952, when he joined BAC Local 1 Missouri as an apprentice. After earning his journey card, Flynn established a reputation as an excellent bricklayer. He brought the same skill, dedication and meticulous attention to detail to his career as a union activist and leader as he did with his brickwork. He served his union at every level and served it well: from business agent of his home local to secretary-treasurer of the international union, and as BAC president, an office he held for 11 years.
Organizing and training the next generation of bricklayers and workers in the other trowel trades were among Flynn’s hallmarks. Under his leadership, BAC expanded its high-quality training and education programs, which included the creation of a state-of-the-art complex to provide training, certifications and continuing education programs for BAC members at every stage of their career.
John Flynn often said, “the day you joined the union, you became part of something bigger.” Indeed, Brother Flynn always viewed his work and that of BAC in the context of the rich history of North America’s labor movement, and for that reason was an ardent champion of the work of the Labor Heritage Foundation to celebrate the cultural achievements of working people.
John Flynn’s nearly six decades of service to BAC, and to all workers, helped improve the lives of so many people. Our labor movement is better off because of his efforts. The AFL-CIO Executive Council sends our deepest condolences to his family and friends, and to his family at BAC. He will be missed but not forgotten.