Ed Sullivan (unionist)

Born in Boston, Sullivan became an assistant elevator mechanic in 1964, and joined the International Union of Elevator Constructors. In 1981, he was elected as business manager of his union local, campaigning on democratic reforms. By 1996, he was appointed as assistant to the union's president, and then in 1998 he won election as president of the union. == Career ==

In 2000, Sullivan was elected president of the Building and Construction Trades Department, AFL-CIO. In the post, he created the Helmets to Hardhats to encourage military veterans to work in the industry, and he formed the Construction Users Roundtable to work with employers. Sullivan was also elected as a vice-president of the AFL-CIO. He also chaired the boards of directors of the National Coordinating Committee for Multi-employer Plans and the Center to Protect Workers' Rights. He retired from all his posts in 2007, but accepted a general board seat on Ullico. == Personal life ==

In 1997, Sullivan received the Gompers-Murray-Meany Award, the top award of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO. ==References==