Jose Lopez 1932-1985

Jose Lopez dedicated his life to lending a helping hand to all that were in need. He was born and educated in Puerto Rico and came to New York shortly after graduating from high school in 1949. His career in the labor movement began while employed in the Keg-O-Products Corporation, an employer of Lamp and Shade Division members of Local #3 IBEW. In 1950 he enlisted in the United States Army and served as a platoon Sergeant in Korea, receiving the Purple Heart. Upon discharge, he returned to the electrical industry and became a shop steward in the BAL Division of Local #3. He served on the Negotiating, Advisory, and Pension Committees. Jose helped establish the Santiago Iglesias Educational Society of Local #3 under the guidance of then Business Manager, Harry Van Arsdale Jr., and served as its. President for many years. In 1967, he assisted the founding of the Santiago Iglesias Credit Union and served as its. President for four years and as Treasurer for two years. Active in the Hispanic community all his life, he was appointed in 1966 by Governor Rockefeller to the State Board of Social Welfare. In addition, he also served as Board Member of the Puerto Rican Association for Community Affairs, the Hispanic Labor Committee, the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, the Puerto Rican Folklore Fiesta, and as an organizer of the Puerto Rican Day Parade in New York City. In 1967, President George Meany, AFL-CIO, appointed him Field Representative of Region # 7, which encompassed New York, New Jersey, and Puerto Rico. From 1968 through 1970, he was appointed to assist the United Farm Workers during their boycott of grapes and helped organize consumer and union-member support through leafleting, speeches and fund raising, which provided farm workers in California their first union contract in 1970. Jose Lopez was a graduate of the Harry Van Arsdale Jr. School of Labor Studies, earning a degree in Labor Studies. Jose was a loyal, dedicated union activist who was always held in high esteem by his colleagues in trade union movement.