Warren S. George has demonstrated that a commitment to organizing can change a union. Under his leadership, ATU created an organizing department, hired an organizing director and extended the benefits of union membership to transit workers the union had not reached before.
He started his career in transportation as a bus driver for Critchlow Bus lines in Pittsburgh in 1956 after a tour of duty with the U.S. Navy. Six years later he took part in a successful organizing drive of Critchlow by ATU Local 85 and became a proud member of the union.
Warren George won election to the leadership of his local unionin 1963, after moving to the Port Authority of Alleghany County. He served on his union’s executive board and as president and financial secretary-treasurer. In 1975, he was elected an ATU international vice president and member of the General Executive Board. He was appointed special assistant to the international president in 1990 and became international executive vice president in 1993—a position to which he was later elected and reelected. A unanimous General Executive Board named him international president 10 years later. As president, Warren George kept his union strong during difficult times of state and local budget cuts, service cutbacks and fare increases.
The AFL-CIO Executive Council is grateful for his contributions to this council, to the Union Veterans Council which he served as a governing board member, to his union and to America’s working families.