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George Leitz,
Fifth President, 1989-1994
GEORGE E.
LEITZ was sworn in as TWU's 5th International President on
January 9, 1989. He succeeded the late John E. Lawe, who had
passed away on January 5, 1989. Leitz also served the TWU of
America as Secretary-Treasurer from 1983 to 1985 and Executive
Vice President from 1985 to 1989.
An ex-Marine who saw action on Guam and Tarawa in World War II,
Leitz joined TWU Local 225 in Fairview, N.J., in 1948 as a bus
driver for the Orange and Black Bus Co. (now N.J. Transit).
Shortly after, he began his career as a labor leader in the best
possible place, the grass roots. He earned his stripes as a shop
steward and then was elected Section Chairman for Local 225 in
1954. In 1959 he was elected Vice President of the Local. Two
years later he was elected President, a post he held until 1978.
During his years as President, Local 225 increased its
membership from 450 to 2,000. He expanded it from a Local mainly
representing bus drivers to a diversified Union of drivers,
clerical workers, sanitation workers and service workers in
schools and townships in New Jersey. Leitz also served as a Vice
President of the New Jersey State Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO,
during his years as Local 225 President.
Leitz came to work full-time for the International Union in 1978
as an International Representative. He was elected an
International Vice President the following year. A member of the
TWU Executive Board since 1973, Leitz was named first Director
of the TWU Transit Division when it was formed in 1981. Leitz
served as a delegate to the 15th, 16th and 17th AFL-CIO
Conventions and to the 34th Congress of the International
Transport Workers Federation in October 1983 in Madrid, Spain.
He was named a member of the Road Transport Section Committee by
the 34th ITF Congress.
Leitz was honored as "Man of The Year" by the Deborah Hospital
Foundation in 1986. He retired as TWU International President at
TWU's 19th Constitutional Convention, at which he was named
President Emeritus.
In his last message to the membership, Leitz recalled that he
had negotiated more than 300 labor contracts for TWU members
during his career, and had helped organize 20 new properties for
the union. He also recalled that while he was working hard for
TWU for so many years, his wife, Dorothy, had accused him of
being a bigamist -- that he was married to her and the union at
the same time. "It has always been a very difficult juggling act
for a dedicated union officer to provide the membership with the
representation and services they need and deserve, while at the
same time trying to be a caring spouse and parent." said Leitz.
He also noted that he oversaw a strong financial improvement for
TWU during his stewardship, and left the union in its best
monetary position ever.
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