1. Joseph Albert "Jock" Yablonski was an American labor leader in the United Mine Workers in the 1950s and 1960s known for seeking reform in the union and better working conditions for miners.
17 Facts About Joseph Yablonski
1. 2.
Joseph Yablonski asked for a Department of Labor investigation, charging a fraudulent election.
3.
Joseph Yablonski, called "Jock", was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on March 3,1910, as the son of Polish immigrants, After attending public schools, Yablonski began working in the mines as a boy, joining his father in this industry.
4.
Joseph Yablonski was first elected to union office in 1934.
5.
In 1940, Joseph Yablonski was elected as a representative to the international executive board.
6.
Joseph Yablonski took leave to work in 1969 on her father's campaign for the UMWA presidency.
7.
Joseph Yablonski clashed with Tony Boyle, who was elected president of the UMW in 1963, over how the union should be run.
8.
Joseph Yablonski believed that Boyle did not adequately represent the miners and was too cozy with the mine owners.
9.
In May 1969 Joseph Yablonski announced his candidacy for president of the union in the election to be held later that year.
10.
In 1969 Joseph Yablonski challenged Boyle for the presidency of UMWA.
11.
Joseph Yablonski was the first anti-administration insurgent candidate in 40 years.
12.
Joseph Yablonski initiated five civil lawsuits against UMWA in federal court, on related matters.
13.
Joseph Yablonski hired Paul Eugene Gilly, an out-of-work house painter and son-in-law of Silous Huddleston, a minor UMWA official, and two drifters, Aubran Wayne "Buddy" Martin and Claude Edward Vealey.
14.
On January 8,1970, Joseph Yablonski's attorney waived the right to further internal review of the election by the union and requested an immediate investigation by DOL of the 1969 union presidential election.
15.
Joseph Yablonski was sentenced to three consecutive life terms in prison, where he died in 1985.
16.
In 1973 Yablonski posthumously received the Samuel S Beard Award for Greatest Public Service by an Individual 35 Years or Under, made annually by Jefferson Awards.
17.
The Boyle-Joseph Yablonski dispute is a sub-plot which several characters mention, expressing their opinions of unions and corruption.