After graduating, McEntee became part of
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) District Council 33, Several months later, he began working as a staff member of its Philadelphia local council. McEntee was a member of the
Democratic National Committee and was a "super delegate" in the Pennsylvania
2008 Democratic National Convention delegation. His gross salary of $1,020,751 in 2012, his last year on the job, coupled with his use of $325,000 in union money to charter private jets in 2010 and 2011, became an issue in the campaign to succeed him. After over three decades as AFSCME president, his plans to retire were announced in November 2011, and he was succeeded by
Lee Saunders in 2012. ==Personal life==