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Lawrence (Larry) J. Hanley, president of ATU, nation’s largest transit union, dies at 62

Posted May 13, 2019

Staten Island Advance

Lawrence (Larry) J. Hanley

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By Carol Ann Benanti | [email protected]

Lawrence J. “Larry” Hanley, International President of the Amalgamated Transit Union and founding member of the Working Families Party in State -- a former Bulls Head resident -- died May 7 in Odenton, Md. , where he lived since 2010. He was 62. Menu Set Subscribe A tireless leader who fougWhte atherfor more than 200,000 ATU members, transit riders and all trade unions, under his leadership the oSignrga InnizaSteioarnch / was transformed into one of the strongest unions in the labor movement was transformed into one of the strongest unions in the labor movement.

During Hanley’s reign he fearlessly advocated for better public transportation and for social, racial, and economic justice for all working classes. He devoted more than 40 years of his life to the ATU and was a tireless leader representing its members, transit riders, and all trade unions.

In 1978 at age 21, Hanley began driving a bus out of ’s Flatbush Depot and relocated to in 1979 when he became a member of ATU Local 726. Back then, even as a rookie, he was conscious of defending those who couldn’t defend themselves and sought to actively protect bus drivers and passengers on all levels.

He soon rose to the rank of shop steward, helped lead a takeover of the borough’s Democratic party, was elected the youngest president of Local 726 and organized union members and transit riders in a successful effort to reform the way transit service was provided on Staten Island.

He was elected secretary/treasurer of ATU in 1987, the second highest ranking position in the local.

He ran the Staten Island operation of David Dinkins’ successful campaign for mayor of New York and was also the Staten Island chairman for Liz Holtzman, a former member of the House of Representatives, who represented New York's 16th congressional district for four terms.

In 2002, Hanley was named ATU international vice president before being elected as a reformer to the office of international president in 2010.

As international president, he restructured the ATU to better protect the livelihoods of transit workers across 44 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and nine Canadian provinces.

Stewart Ransom, a retired bus operator, and a photographer and videographer for the ATU Local 726, and friend, noted:

“Larry Hanley was one of the greatest labor leaders of the last 100 years on the level of Mike Quill, the labor leader during the 1966 bus driver Menu Set Subscribe strikes. He started the WoWrkeiatherng Families Party in New York State, which continues to this day. He worked as international presideSignnt aInnd oSenarech of this issues were bus operators being assaulted. And he diligently addressed that.” / this issues were bus operators being assaulted. And he diligently addressed that.

He added: “He fought for new bus designs for safety of the pedestrians and what was best for the bus drivers. In other parts of the country they had safer features. He also fought for drivers to have a facility rest stop. He was working on that recently, a concept which should be prevalent all over the country.”

Continuously collaborating with bus operators and riders, Hanley was responsible for getting bus fares reduced from $6 to $3 and extending transit routes to double capacity, thus opening up thousands of jobs for bus operators.

Mayor Bill DiBlasio tweeted:

“Larry Hanley was a lion of the labor movement. From his days as a bus driver to his tenure as a national leader, he carried others on his back. Our sincere condolences to his family, and to his brothers and sisters in labor.

“Larry Hanley was the proudest, smartest, most passionate, progressive leader of working people to ever come from his beloved Staten Island," Sen. said. “He was an absolute warrior for working people – from fighting for full investment in mass transit, to affordable fares for commuters, to fair working conditions and wages for transit workers, to preserving highway safety, to building an America that lived up to its highest ideals of democracy, opportunity and equal justice.”

Charles Greinsky, one of Hanley’s closest and dearest friends, said:

“Larry always, cared for the little guy and hated bullies. He was my closest friend of 33 years, my best man and an old fashioned unionist with modern language. He went from driving a bus at age 21 and progressed through the union to become Local 726 Staten Island president to the presidency of the International Union representing thousands of transit workers.”

Said Hanley’s brother James: “My brother Larry, from childhood, was always fighting for the people who couldn’t defend themselves and he continued that throughout his career.”

“It is with greatest sorrow to share with you that our dear husband, father and brother, Lawrence J. Hanley, passed away on May 7, 2019," Menu Set Subscribe wrote his daughter, MonicWa.e ather"He devoted his life to the union movement and to the Amalgamated Transit Union. His fondest wishSign fo rIn theS uearnchion now would be to continue your everyday efforts for the members, because they were always the ones on his mind. He shared his love of / now would be to continue your everyday efforts for the members, because they were always the ones on his mind. He shared his love of defending the defenseless with you in the hopes that the ATU would be a shining beacon in the labor movement, the country, and the world.”

Hanley’s son, Lawrence Jr. added:

“We wish to thank you for all of your hard work in your careers furthering these goals and wish you success as you continue in furtherance of them. As we go forward, the men and women of the ATU, and the labor movement will always be in our hearts. We will never forget the joy and privilege he felt in his over 40-year career, fighting for the people who needed a champion. We are so proud of everything the ATU has done and will do for the working women and men of this country. It was an honor.

“In the 39 years since we met when he was driving the Flatbush Avenue bus, Larry kept me laughing and on my toes; after all he was 6’5”, said his wife, Thelma. "I was always so proud of him as a father and a husband and I will miss him every day.”

The war of words between Hanley, a passionate Democrat, and then-Borough President -- a passionate Republican -- were legendary when Hanley represented Staten Island. They fought about everything from David Dinkins to Molinari’s support of allowing private bus franchises to operate on Staten Island.

But in typical style of both men, they eventually established a peace.

In June 2018, Hanley reached out to the Advance when he discovered Molinari was gravely ill, seeking contact information.

“A couple of years ago Guy and I made personal peace,” Hanley wrote Advance Executive Editor Brian Laline. “It started with me seeing the Advance story about Guy and John Solazzo at a stop light. I sent him [Guy] a note about still being a happy warrior. He called me. It was a good reminiscence," he wrote.

“All I can say is, those were the days...Guy was always fun.”

Hanley is survived by his wife, Thelma; daughter Monica; son Lawrence Jr. and brother James.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by the Matthew Funeral Home in Willowbrook with visitation on Monday from 4 to 8 p.m. Menu Set Subscribe Weather Sign In Search Mass of Christian burial is set for 10:30 a.m. Tuesday in Our Lady of Pity R.C. Church, Bulls Head. / View Comments ( 4 )

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