John Olsen

John Olsen

John W. Olsen is President of the Connecticut AFL-CIO, and was first elected to that office in 1988.

Labor career

Olsen is a plumber by trade, a former President and Business Manager of the United Association of Plumbers, Pipefitters and Steamfitters, Local 133, and a former Secretary-Treasurer of the Connecticut State Building and Construction Trades Council.He was elected to the Connecticut AFL-CIO Executive Board in 1983, and subsequently served as General Vice President and then as Secretary-Treasurer in 1987-88.

Service

Olsen represents labor on a number of commissions and boards including Connecticut Innovations Inc., Connecticut Employment and Training Commission, the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund and the national board of the Elderly Housing Development and Operations Corporation.

Democratic Party

Mr. Olsen has more than thirty years of political activism and volunteerism. He was a member of the Democratic State Central Committee from 1982 to 1995, served as Chair from 2001 to 2002 and was Co-Chair of the State Central Platform Committee. He has been on the Democratic National Committee since 1996. Mr. Olsen, a native of Greenwich, served on the Greenwich Democratic Town Committee from 1978 – 1993 with one term as Chair and one as Treasurer. He is involved in his hometown Democratic Town Committee in Clinton since 1996.

Clinton superdelegate

In May 2008 John Olsen, a superdelegate at the Democratic convention, threw his support to presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton.

Olsen, head of the Connecticut AFL-CIO, said today that he voted for the New York senator in Connecticut’s Democratic primary in February and has been impressed by her tenacity in the nomination battle and ability to appeal to core groups of voters.

2024 Amistad congratulations

Janeen Olsen and John Olsen.

2006 Communist May Day celebrations

At the 2006 People’s Weekly World annual May Day celebration, Connecticut AFL-CIO President John Olsen recalled that only two years ago Connecticut Labor Against the War was awarded the Connecticut PWW’s Newsmaker Award. This, he said, contributed to the dialogue that resulted in adoption by the state and national AFL-CIO of strong resolutions against the Iraq war.

Olsen spoke at the May 7 celebration, where he accepted the Newsmaker Award on behalf of the Connecticut AFL-CIO. “It is in rooms like this where things begin to happen,” Olsen said.

Making the presentation, Art Perry of SEIU 32BJ credited Olsen’s leadership for creating the climate where Change to Win and AFL-CIO unions in the state have continued to work together despite a national split.

This fight for justice has stirred up a powerful coalition of real grassroots organizing, Joelle Fishman, chair of the Connecticut Communist Party USA, told the PWW gathering.

Connecticut Opposes the War

March 23 2007, Hartford, Conn.: After a 12-hour snow and sleet storm, 1,500 Connecticut residents dug themselves out for the Connecticut Opposes the War rally at the Old Statehouse March 17. Buses, vans and carpools left from campuses, union halls, churches, suburban towns and cities, reflecting months of grassroots organizing.

Speakers included U.S. Reps. John B. Larson and Rosa DeLauro, Connecticut House Majority Leader Chris Donovan and Connecticut AFL-CIO President John Olsen. Participants vowed to go after Sen. Joe Lieberman (I) and Rep. Chris Shays (R) “until they change their minds about this war.”

DeLauro, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, called the war “a mistake of historic proportions,” saying “Congress must take up its own constitutional responsibility.” She said, “This week Congress took the first step to get the troops out. I’m going to work my heart out to get this passed.”

A bill prohibiting the president from invading Iran without approval will be taken up next week, said Larson, declaring, “We will end the policies of unilateral and pre-emptive war.” He urged the crowd to keep sending letters and phone calls.

Winchester activism

At a press conference to protest job losses from China’s unfair trade advantages in front of the now-closed Winchester firearms plant in New Haven, Ct., CT. AFL-CIO President John Olsen, CT AFL-CIO Sec.-Treas. Lori Pelletier, Local 609 President John Reynolds, Craig Gauthier of Winchester Ad-Hoc Committee, GrowJobsCT Director John Harrity, former Winchester employees Kerry Dawson and Larry Edwards and John Bauman, president of the Organization for the Rights of American Workers.

Cheap imports from China carried a high price for 186 members at the iconic Winchester rifle facility after parent company US Repeating arms closed the New Haven plant on March 31, 2006.

Former Winchester workers spoke out at a Connecticut AFL-CIO rally in support of an unfair trade practices petition filed by the AFL-CIO to force the Bush Administration to take action against China’s violation of workers’ rights. Those violations, including slave-labor conditions and extensive use of child labor, give China an unfair competitive advantage and cost millions of North American jobs. Under the Trade Act of 1974, the U.S. has the ability to take action against China, but the Bush Administration has refused to do so.

“March 31 was a very sad day; 186 jobs, that’s 186 families,” Local 609 President and 40-year Winchester employee John Reynolds told the New Haven Register. “We are looking for our representatives in Washington D.C. to do something.”

U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) had recently introduced legislation to stem the tide of manufacturing jobs going overseas and has urged the Bush Administration to take tougher action.

"The closure of the Winchester plant was a blow to both the generations of workers who were the backbone of the plant as well as the surrounding community," DeLauro said. "Yet, the closure of this New Haven institution represents something much bigger — it is a symbol of the Bush Administration’s failed trade policies and its impact on families right here at home."

Endorsing Democrats

At the Connecticut AFL-CIO convention June 23, 2008, state AFL-CIO President John Olsen, calling on everyone to go out and organize. “We got the House and Senate back in 2006 and now we have to get the presidency back so we can win the Employee Free Choice Act, universal health care and an energy policy like the Apollo plan.”

Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd was warmly welcomed by the delegates. Decrying the disparities in America, he lauded the labor movement for hard fought battles for workers’ gains “not given benevolently by corporate America,” and passionately called for an all-out push to elect Barack Obama on Nov. 4.

Saying he hopes the Employee Free Choice Act will be the first bill on the new president’s desk, Dodd emphasized that “this election will determine what kind of country, what kind of world, we leave to our children and grandchildren … We can’t afford four more years of Bush.”

The convention unanimously adopted a resolution reaffirming opposition to the war by national and state labor bodies, and asserting that Obama “shares labor’s opposition … while John McCain supports the war and President Bush’s military policy.”

The resolution urges unions to inform their members “of McCain’s pro-war position and how it is directly related to his anti-union economic policies; and how the continuation of the war is fueling the current economic crisis.”

Bill Shortell, representing the Machinists Union and the Bristol Labor Council, recalled asking, when the war began, “Is this an issue for us?” to which his buddy replied, “Who’s going to speak for me if the union doesn’t speak for me?” Shortell called on the delegates to “take a strong position and back candidates committed to get us out of Iraq and end this bloodshed as soon as possible.”

A heated debate took place over the endorsement of Jim Himes, a pro-labor, antiwar Democrat challenging incumbent Republican Chris Shays (4th Congressional District), a leading proponent of Bush’s Iraq war policies. Shays was the only representative from Connecticut to vote for additional funding of the war last month. He had angered the endorsement committee during an interview in which he objected to a question on the war, saying, “Why are you asking me about that? That’s not a labor issue.”

AFSCME delegate Blair Bertaccini got a round of applause when he called on the convention to “support candidates who support us as a class, as workers, not just one particular sector. Otherwise we will keep losing numbers and become irrelevant.” Himes won the endorsement overwhelmingly.

The convention also committed to help Democratic Reps. Chris Murphy (5th CD) and Joe Courtney (2nd CD) return to Congress. They both defeated Republicans in 2006 and have been targeted by the Republican National Committee for smear attacks.

Speaking to delegates from the 3rd CD, which she represents, Rep. Rosa DeLauro thankedd the labor movement for enabling her to win by large majorities. “With big margins I can take on the strong fights, which those with small margins many not feel free to do,” she said, referring to the vote against further funds for the war.

Delegates signed up for the Labor 2008 program, including speaking to members in their workplace and at home. Signatures were collected on postcards for the Employee Free Choice Act which will be presented to the new president in January.

A moment of silence honored prominent union leaders who recently died, including Merrillee Milstein, former District 1199 vice president and then deputy regional director of the AFL-CIO, known for her dedication and commitment to organizing and building diversity within the labor movement.

The convention adopted a strategic plan for the elections and legislative and organizing goals. A Diversity Dialogue will be held Sept. 20 with the aim of developing new union leaders. AFL-CIO representative Barbara Nicole Holtz urged delegates to attend, projecting the conference as a model for other states.

2021 Amistad Awards Host Committee

The Connecticut People's World Committee presented its annual Amistad Awards on Saturday December 12 2021 to mark the 102nd anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party USA, with awards being presented to Sen. Julie Kushner, D-Danbury, Pastor Rodney Wade of Waterbury and SEIU activist Azucena Santiago.

The Former Awardees Host Committee was Rob Baril, Jan Hochadel, Wildaliz Bermudez, Rochelle Palache, John Humphries, Ken Suzuki, Shellye Davis, Louise Simmons, Eva Bermudez Zimmerman, Peggy Buchanan, Robyn Porter, Camila Bortolleto, Carolina Bortolleto, Jeanette Morrison, Dan Livingston, Juan Brito Ciro Gutierrez, Cindy Harrity, Jill Marks, Alberto Bernardez, Dan Durant, Meg Riccio, Laurie Kennington, Edwin Vargas, Jr., Fatima Rojas, Toni Harp, Kurt Westby, Delphine Clyburn, Renae Reese, John Olsen, Carmen Boudier, Anna Montalvo, Gwen Mills, Alfred L. Marder, Juan Hernandez, Kathleen Cooper, Jorge Perez, Rev Scott Marks, John Harrity, Dolores Colon, Migdalia Castro, Blair Bertaccini, Teresa Younger, Pearl Granat.

2008 newsmaker Awards

Newly organized union members, activists and community leaders gathered in New Haven on Sunday May 4 to celebrate the annual presentation of Peoples Weekly World Newsmaker Awards for International Workers Day. Two thousand dealers at Foxwoods Casino who won union representation with UAW Region 9A and workers at New England Linen who won representation with UNITE HERE received the awards and a pledge that the community will continue to stand by them.

The workers were warmly applauded as they came forward to tell their stories and express appreciation for the solidarity. Both groups of workers faced legal challenges, highlighting the importance of the Employee Free Choice Act as an issue in the 2008 elections.

John Olsen, president of the Connecticut AFL CIO, said all of labor stands by these two groups of courageous workers, and called for support of the one million signature campaign for changing labor laws with the Employee Free Choice Act.

Greeting the rise of activism throughout the country, reflected at the event, Olsen urged those present to continue to make their message heard. Calling for an end to divisions and labeling he emphasized the need to join together to make a change in the country.

Communist Party award

Three Connecticut leaders were named as recipients of the Amistad Award presented by the Communist Party USA newszine People's World on Sunday, Dec. 5. 2010

John Olsen, Carmen Boudier and Juan Figueroa "have long been in the forefront of struggles for jobs, health care and basic human needs, workers' rights, equal representation, voting rights and peace. From the picket line to the voting line, they have each exemplified the strength and unity that it takes to keep our country moving forward."

The annual awards were at a special anniversary concert, "Voices for Jobs, Equality & Peace.....A concert for people's needs not corporate greed." Jazz and Latin music, labor songs and spoken word were presented by an array of artists including Bill Collins of the Rabble Rousers, Hermanos Son, a jazz set with Jeff Fuller, William Fluker and friends, Richard Hill, Baub Bidon, DJ Bell and Ken Brown.

The post-election event was dedicated to "expanding grass roots action to achieve good jobs, equal rights and a redirection of funds to meet the needs of local communities and youth".

"John Olsen has devoted his life to the cause of working people since he started out as a member of the Plumbers Union. During his tenure as president of the Connecticut AFL-CIO he has been instrumental in winning legislation, union contracts and elections that have expanded opportunity and raised the quality of life for workers and their families."

"Carmen Boudier, president of the New England Health Care Employees Union, District 1199, first joined the union when she organized the nursing home where she worked. She has led many ground-breaking organizing drives and contract battles including the current six month strike against Spectrum Health Care."

"Juan Figueroa has been a pioneer for Latino representation and civil rights in many capacities at the state and national level. His leadership of the Universal Health Care Foundation put Connecticut in front with the passage of Sustinet. He was the first Puerto Rican candidate for Governor of Connecticut in the 2010 Democratic primaries."

May Day with the Communists, 2011

On May Day 2011, in New Haven, a rally and march of several hundred was initiated by immigrant workers who had just won a long fight with Goodfella's Restaurant for $23,000 in unpaid wages. Representatives from local unions, student and community groups joined in. The march through downtown ended at the New Haven Green for the annual May Day celebration, including information tables, a giant peace sign project, performances and speeches.

At the end of the afternoon, an overflow crowd from around the state turned out for the presentation of People's World Newsmaker Awards to Spectrum nursing home workers locked out on strike for one year, Communications Workers Local 1298, and SEBAC, the bargaining coalition of all state worker's unions representing 40,000 workers.

Organized around the theme "We are One - Workers Rights are Human Rights," the event honored Connecticut's public workers, their unions and the services they provide. It offered an opportunity for youth leaders, strikers, community activists and state labor leaders to discuss how to build a more powerful political force of working people that can change the debate from deficits to taxing the rich and big corporations, and achieve a change of priorities in our country.

Exemplifying the kind of courage required, Carmen Boudier, president of New England Local 1199, said the 400 Spectrum workers had rejected a company attempt to rehire only some workers and not others. "We will all stay out until we can all go back," she declared to cheers and applause.

John Olsen, president of the Connecticut AFL-CIO, addressed all three events. "There is a class war going on - they're trying to exterminate us," he said. Warning against balancing the budget on the backs of state workers, he said that if the Bush tax cuts extended by Congress in December were collected from Connecticut residents making over $250,000, there would be no deficit..

Defending Social Security

Alfred L. Marder 90th Birthday Celebration

New Haven People's Center blog

The March 2012 Host Committee, in honor of Connecticut Communist Party USA member Alfred Marder's 90th Birthday Celebration, held at the New Haven People's Center consisted of;

Hon. Rosa DeLauro, Sen. Toni Harp, Sen. Martin Looney, Rep. Juan Candelaria, Rep. Patricia Dillon, Rep. Toni Edmonds Walker, Rep. Gary Holder-Winfield, Rep. Roland Lemar, Ald. Jorge Perez, President, New Haven Board of Aldermen, Ambassador Sylvester Rowe, Mohammed Barrie, Vinie Burrows, Mary Compton, Joelle Fishman, Craig Gauthier, Emanuel Gomez, Hilda Kilpatrick, Henry Lowendorf, Kenneth Marder, Rev. Scott Marks,William Morico, John Olsen, Quentin Snediker, Jarvis Tyner, Andrea van den Heever, Susan Yolen

A statement issued on the committee's behalf read;

Dear Friends and Family of Al Marder,

We are excited to invite you to celebrate the 90th birthday of Al Marder and to recognize his many contributions, international and local, toward world peace, justice and equality.

Please join us in this joyous occasion on Sunday, March 18, at 3:00 pm at the New Haven Peoples Center, 37 Howe Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06511.

Connecticut pro union rally

On March 30,2011, New Haven's "working people" got a jump on the “We Are One”actions that took place around the country on April 4, commemorating the anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s assassination and his work with the Memphis sanitation workers. In attendance were UNITE HERE national president John Wilhelm, Connecticut AFL-CIO president John Olsen, Rep. Patricia Dillon, D-New Haven, and former Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz, now a candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2012, alongside thousands of marchers from the community.

This rally didn't protest the attempt by elected officials to pass legislation that would take away collective bargaining rights. Instead, the coalition that has been organizing for months—beginning well before Wisconsin brought union rights to the front pages--included public workers fighting layoffs and privatization of their jobs, the unemployed, and one union that's been battling for 20 years for recognition.

Retirement celebration

When 2,000 union members in West Virginia were forced out on strike for 10 long months in 1989 by the Pittston Coal Company, local union president Richard Trumka thought they should march on corporate headquarters. But it was 900 miles away in Greenwich, Connecticut where his union did not have one member.

Trumka made a call to John Olsen, the newly elected president of the Connecticut AFL-CIO. Within weeks a giant rally was organized that captured the attention of the nation.

"John took us in," Trumka told a crowd of 700 gathered for Olsen's retirement dinner. "We won a tremendous strike and saved healthcare for 2,000 families, my mother and dad included," he said in appreciation.

So began a long friendship between the two labor leaders. Now president of the AFL CIO, Trumka came to New Haven, November 2013, for the celebration of Olsen's retirement.

"He stood up not just when it was easy, but when it was hard," Trumka told the packed ballroom of union members, elected officials, family, friends and community leaders, calling Olsen "the best of the best.".

Speaker after speaker described Olsen's fiery rhetoric and consistent willingness to stand up to any injustice. The crowd roared approval when Gov. Dannell Malloy praised Olsen's leadership and exclaimed that while labor is under attack in state after state, Connecticut has raised the minimum wage, enacted paid sick days, protected the right to organize and worker's mortgages saying "when we raise labor up we raise the middle class up."

While Connecticut has elected a Democrat majority in the state legislature and all Democrat Congressional delegation, the tea party is seeking a foothold in this state in the 2014 elections. The public expressions of support for labor's program from these elected officials at the dinner, created a positive climate for new organizing and coalition building.

Lori Pelletier, a former machinist who served as secretary treasurer with Olsen, became the new head of the Connecticut AFL CIO last month. She thankedd Olsen for his leadership, dedication and mentoring, and also expressed appreciation to his wife Janeen Olsen who retired from her post in the organization.

Now president emeritus, Olsen is the group's longest serving president. He started out as a plumber, became president and business manager of Local 133, and served as secretary-treasurer of the Connecticut State Building and Construction Trades Council. He has served on many boards and commissions and held many political posts.

"We're all brothers and sisters," said Olsen in acceptance, recognizing a long list of labor leaders and family who influenced his life. "I hope to add my voice on controversial issues in the state and nation. I want to get something done," he added looking forward.

All proceeds from the dinner were shared between the United Labor Agency which serves the families of Hartford area union members in times of crisis, and the Elderly Housing Development and Operations Corporation, where Olsen will serve as a consultant.

In 2010, Olsen accepted the People's World Amistad Award for his "courageous leadership which has expanded opportunity and raised the quality of life for all working families in Connecticut and the nation."

Communist award ceremony

Fatima Rojas, UniteHere Local 215 organizer, presents awards to Edwin Gomes, Edwin Vargas, Jr. and Laurie Kennington, while John Olsen, president emeritas Conn. AFL-CIO, looks on from back row

The 2013 Amistad Awards were presented by the People’s World on Sunday, December 1 at 4 p.m. at a special ”MARCHING ON for Jobs, Freedom & Peace” anniversary rally in New Haven at Cooperative Arts and Humanities High School, 177 College St.

John Olsen was a guest at the event.

Chained CPI

July 2013, over 50 members of Connecticut Alliance for Retired Americans (CT ARA) along with our Labor and Community allies worked together to create a human chain across the street from the Federal Building in New Haven to protest the chained CPI. Bette Marafino, President of Connecticut Alliance for Retired Americans organized the group into a human chain.

Noted speakers included Lisa Perrone Chief of staff for Congressman John B. Larson, Marilyn Cheyne staff for Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, Win Heimer CT ARA board member read a statement from Congressman Joe Courtney in opposition of the Chained CPI, Manny Gomez newly elected CT ARA board member representing the New Haven People's Center spoke about the importance of Social Security , Jade our youngest participant (12 years old!) explained that Social Security needs to be there for her when she is older, Connecticut AFL-CIO President John Olsen commented that Social Security provides retirement security for millions of Americans. Mark Henson District Director for Congressman Jim Himes greeted attendees. Our Connecticut Senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy were unable to attend. However, CT ARA President Bette Marafino assured our group that both Senators do oppose Chained CPI and both have signed on to Senator Harkins bill S567.