Rise Within Local 32B
Shortly after arriving in New York City, Sullivan took a job as an elevator operator. On April 19, 1934, BSEIU Local 32B was founded under the leadership of James Bambrick, who would become its first president. Sullivan became a charter member of the new union, and participated in strikes in 1934 and 1935.
Sullivan allied himself with George Scalise, president of a small BSEIU local of window washers and the international union's representative for the East Coast. When BSEIU president Jerry Horan died in April 1937, Scalise was elected BSEIU president with the assistance of the Chicago mob and Luciano crime family mobster Anthony Carfano. Scalise used his office to gain control over Local 32B and in 1938 engineered Sullivan's election as secretary-treasurer. Sullivan and another officer stuffed the ballot box to ensure victory. In 1940, Scalise was convicted of bribery, embezzlement and labor racketeering, and imprisoned. Local 1 president William McFetridge was elected BSEIU president. Despite Sullivan's close relationship with Scalise, President McFetridge voiced total confidence in Sullivan's honesty.
On April 25, 1941, Local 32B President James Bambrick admitted that he had stolen $10,000 in union funds. Although Bambrick accused Sullivan of being the real leader of the union (through his ties to Scalise), Sullivan adamantly denied any wrongdoing. Bambrick resigned as union president, and Sullivan succeeded him as interim president on June 19, 1941. Sullivan won a full term as president on September 18.
Bambrick's charges, however, led to lengthy disputes between the international and Sullivan. Beginning in 1941, BSEIU President McFetridge attempted to repeatedly "try" Sullivan before various union bodies, but was rebuffed numerous times by state and federal courts. Sullivan was elected a BSEIU international vice-president in 1941, and by 1945 had solidified his power in the union. Sullivan's position on the international union's executive board eventually led McFetridge to end efforts to oust Sullivan. In part, Sullivan's stronger political position resulted from his union's growing membership: Local 32B now had more than 36,000 members in 5,000 office buildings and 22 department stores.
Read more about this topic: David Sullivan (labor Leader)
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