Matthew Guinan

Who was Matthew Guinan?

Matthew "Mattie" Guinan was an American labor organizer, second president of Transport Workers Union of America.

Born in Offaly, Ireland, he immigrated in 1929. He took a job as a trolley operator in 1933. In 1943, after six years as an unpaid volunteer organizer, he became a full-time organizer for TWU Local 100.

He was able to negotiate a 40-hour work week for public and private bus workers. He became International Executive Vice President in 1952 and International Secretary Treasurer in 1956, and was re-elected in 1961 and 1965.

Following a bitter New York City transit strike, President Mike Quill died at age 60, and Guinan succeeded his longtime friend. Guinan held the post of International President until his retirement on May 1, 1979.