JOHN PATRICK

1949-2020

In a long career with the United Steelworkers Union and as President of the Texas AFL-CIO, John Patrick built a stellar record of integrity, solidarity, and generosity of spirit while helping build a stronger labor movement. 

Patrick began his union career as a member of the International Association of Machinists at Cameron Iron Works in Houston before moving to the Steelworkers to work at Reynolds Aluminum. In a succession of USW jobs, he excelled at difficult negotiations, exercising patience and tenacity in ways that won advances. Later, he brought those skills into the realm of arbitration, achieving positive results for working families. Patrick led the talks in the legendary “walking of the contract” at Lone Star Steel, ultimately arriving at a contract that the union approved after 23 months. 

A U.S. Army veteran who parachuted out of airplanes and a 1994 graduate of Antioch University, where he obtained a B.A. in Labor Studies via the George Meany Center, Patrick served on the Texas AFL-CIO Executive Board before his election to the position of Secretary-Treasurer under President Becky Moeller. Upon Moeller’s retirement, Patrick was elected President. He placed broad emphasis on representing every last working person in Texas speaking out on civil rights, low-wage jobs, and the aspirations of non-union members on many occasions. He further built the state federation’s capacity to engage effectively in politics and legislative advocacy.