New Book Shows IAM’s ‘Wimpy’ No Wimp
 |
|
Christmas may be over, but it’s never too late to give yourself a present. A new biography of William Winpisinger, who led the Machinists (IAM) from 1977-1988, takes an in-depth look at the life of the legendary labor leader, who was affectionately by his nickname, “Wimpy.”
But as author Patrick Halley makes clear, Wimpy was no wimp. When Winpisinger died in 1997 at the age of 73, IAM President Tom Buffenbarger said:
“He made sure the workers’ voice was heard…from the picket lines to Capitol Hill, from the bargaining table to the corporate boardroom.”
In 1951 at age 26, Winpisinger became one of the youngest members of the IAM national field staff. During his tenure as IAM president and on the AFL-CIO Executive Council, he gained a reputation as a blunt-spoken advocate of progressive ideals.
