Just over 40 years ago, John Ryan, a young welder from Galena, Kansas, took a job at Missouri Steel Castings a few miles away in Joplin and signed up as a member of Local 204 of the Molders Union. It was the beginning of a remarkable career in the modern union movement.
It didn't take long for Ryan's union sisters and brothers to recognize his leadership talents and determination to fight for fair wages, good benefits and a decent middle-class life for Missouri Steel Castings employees. His work for the union was so respected that he was asked to serve first in positions at his local, then as an international representative, executive officer, director of research and education and eventually international secretary-treasurer. During that time, he also served as national chair of the OI National Apprenticeship Committee and chair of the Negotiated Rates Board for the glass industry.
In 2004, when Joe Mitchell stepped down as president of the Glass, Molders, Pottery, Plastics and Allied Workers International Union—of which the Molders had been a part for years—Ryan received the highest honor the GMP can give one of its own: He became president of the union.
It was certainly not an easy time to take the helm. The GMP—and the entire union movement—were fighting hard to resist a viciously anti-union White House and Congress. Factories across the country were being downsized or shut down, their work sent to low-wage economies. Ryan understood better than anyone that his most important mission was to fight to maintain fair contracts for GMP members who manufacture everything from glass bottles to fiberglass, sanitary ware to dinnerware, automotive castings to plastic containers.
Often against the odds, Ryan's efforts succeeded. One of his most important accomplishments as GMP president is the contracts he helped win for his members. In 2008 alone, GMP negotiated contracts with three giant glass companies—Owens Illinois, St. Gobain and Anchor Glass—that actually improved on earlier contracts despite overwhelming pressure on industrial unions to make concessions in bargaining.
Ryan is widely recognized as a leader not only of the GMP but of the entire union movement. The AFL-CIO Executive Council has benefited from his valuable contributions.
During the 2008 elections, Ryan led his union in an unparalleled contribution to the labor movement's political program. GMP members pitched in with phone banks and political rallies, and GMP promoted Labor 2008 at every juncture, from shop steward meetings to educational conferences.
It is characteristic of Ryan that he has been one of the most enthusiastic supporters of the Employee Free Choice Act. The GMP has spread the message to its members about how vital this legislation is to guarantee the freedom of workers to organize into unions.
John Ryan has retired as president of the GMP and now, as he steps down from the council, we join together to recognize him for all he has achieved for the GMP, for the AFL-CIO and for America's working families.