Edward Joseph Gainor (August 1, 1870[1] – November 10, 1947) was an American labor unionist.

Edward J. Gainor
President of the National Association of Letter Carriers
Preceded byWilliam E. Kelly
Succeeded byWilliam C. Doherty
Personal details
Born
Edward Joseph Gainor

(1870-08-01)August 1, 1870
Greencastle, Indiana, U.S.
DiedNovember 10, 1947(1947-11-10) (aged 77)
ProfessionLabor unionist

Born in Greencastle, Indiana, Gainor moved to Muncie, Indiana, working as a puddler and heater in a rolling mill. He joined the Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers, and served as secretary of his local from 1890 to 1892.[2]

In 1897, Gainor left the mill, and became a letter carrier. He soon joined the National Association of Letter Carriers, and was elected to its executive in 1901. He became vice-president of the union in 1905, and then in 1914 was elected as president of the union.[2]

In 1916, Gainor moved to Washington, D.C. In 1924, he represented the American Federation of Labor (AFL) at the British Trade Union Congress.[3] He served as a vice-president of the AFL from 1935. Due to poor health, he retired from the Letter Carriers in 1941, and from the AFL in 1943.[2][4]

References

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  1. ^ Fink, Gary (1984). Biographical Dictionary of American Labor. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press. ISBN 0313228655.
  2. ^ a b c The Samuel Gompers Papers. University of Illinois Press. 1986. ISBN 9780252033896.
  3. ^ "E. J. Gainor, 77, dies, postman's leader". New York Times. November 12, 1947.
  4. ^ "E. J. Gainor, ex-AFL executive, dies at 77 after long illness". Washington Post. November 11, 1947.
Trade union offices
Preceded by
William E. Kelly
President of the National Association of Letter Carriers
1914–1941
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Peter S. Shaughnessy
Anthony Chlopek
American Federation of Labor delegate to the Trades Union Congress
1924
With: P. J. Brady
Succeeded by
Albert Adamski
Edward J. Evans
Preceded by Fourteenth Vice-President of the American Federation of Labor
1935–1936
Succeeded by
Preceded by Eleventh Vice-President of the American Federation of Labor
1936–1941
Succeeded by
Preceded by Ninth Vice-President of the American Federation of Labor
1941–1942
Succeeded by
Preceded by Eighth Vice-President of the American Federation of Labor
1942–1943
Succeeded by