James C. Little is the 8th president of the Transport Workers International Union of America, AFL-CIO. He oversees four Divisions: Gaming, Airline, Railroad and Transit; Utility, University and Service. This consists of 114 autonomous Locals representing over 200,000 active members and retirees.

For over three decades International President James C. Little has been dedicated to building a strong and stable future for the Transport Workers Union of America and for the labor movement. As a leader who has held many positions within the organization Little is able to carefully consider what effective progress means for the TWU. “If the organization and the labor movement as a whole does not continuously evolve, then we will dissolve,” he says.

As the Transport Worker Unions’ eighth president Little has taken an aggressive and focused approach to guiding the advancement of TWU during an uncertain time for our country and union members. As part of a three-year strategic plan that Little created at the beginning of his term, he has made some major changes within the International, and in several departments in order to better serve members and locals across all divisions. He is devoted to including members from all locals in his Strategic Planning process. Little knows the importance of teamwork and his role in facilitating the growth of the union.

Little’s foresight was put to the test in 2001, after 9/11, when the airline industry took a nosedive. Working with leaders of other unions on the property, Little helped to keep American Airlines out of bankruptcy. Although the move wasn’t popular at the time, subsequent events (including lost pensions at other airlines) have shown it was a wise decision. Three years later, Little was unanimously elected as the International Executive Vice President. He assumed the role of President in 2006 when he replaced International President Mike O’Brien, who retired for medical reasons.

Under Little’s leadership the transport workers union has strengthened its role in Washington and become a louder voice in the fight for the Employee Free Choice Act, for the reauthorization of the Federal Aviation and Transit Administrations, and other issues important to TWU members and working people across the country. Little is recognized as a powerful leader in the industries that TWU represents; in 2007 he testified in Congress on railroad, aviation and transit issues.

He has expanded the Transport Workers Union’s established three divisions – Transit, Aviation and Railroad – to include the Gaming Division, which organizes card dealers and casino workers (who other unions have turned down) in Las Vegas, Nevada. In addition to focusing on building TWU’s strength, Little has also been pro-active in building international union relations with other transportation affiliates in order to deal with the expanded global market place. Little has also implemented branding strategies to further strengthen TWU’s presence and image now and for the future.

Following the legacy that TWU founder Michael J. Quill started 75 years ago, Jim Little is devoted to equal rights for all. He’s been a staunch supporter of all women’s rights and, as female membership has increased over the years, has supported the union’s Working Women’s Committees on many levels. He’s also been active in the union’s participation in Martin Luther King Day activities and charities and is on the AFL-CIO committee of Civil and Human Rights.

Little has a vision for TWU that extends beyond his lifetime and beyond the confines of our current economic atmosphere. While Little believes in allowing each local space to grow and achieve on its own, he strives to connect brothers and sisters to each other, to their locals and to the international office in order to create a team, 130,000 strong, that will fight together for workers today and for the future of working America.

Little’s Recent Transport Workers Union Career

Little was unanimously elected as TWU’s International Executive Vice President in September 2004 and then elected to a full four-year term at the union’s 22nd Convention in September 2005.

In March 2006 Little replaced International President Mike O’Brien, who retired for medical reasons, and will fill the unexpired term until fall, 2009, when he will be up for reelection at the 23rd constitutional convention.

Prior to his time at the International, Little served as the Air Transport Division Director from 2001 to 2006. As Air Transport Director, Jim oversaw 44 ATD Local affiliates, 11 Government Service contracts, and 31 Airline Contracts. Little’s extensive experience has given him a strong technical background and commendable skill with negotiations, arbitrations, and organizing.

Background

After graduating from Lewis A. Wilson Technical School’s Aircraft Mechanic program Little served as a Crew Chief on KC-135 for the U.S. Air Force’s Strategic Air Command. Once he completed his service, he worked as an overhaul mechanic for Central Aviation and Marine Inc, and then for Pan Am World Services as a Lead Instructor.

In 1971, Little was hired by American Airlines at New York’s LaGuardia airport. He first became a TWU member in Local 501 where he worked in Fleet Service. Between 1974 and 1977 he transitioned to other departments including Accounting-claims, Quality Control, Freight Control-SOC, and Operations Agent, before being hired in Flight Dispatch.

TWU Activism

• 1986-1990 TWU Local 540 Section Chairman
• 1990-1997 President of Local 542 – Aircraft Flight Dispatchers and Meteorologists, and Operations specialists
• 1995-Became a member of the TWU International Executive Board.
• 1997- TWU International Representative
• 1999- TWU International Vice President. In 2000 he was assigned additional duties as Director of the Air Transport Division.
• 2001- Elected TWU International Administrative Vice President and was the Air Transport Director.
• 2005- Elected TWU International Executive Vice President; Air Transport Director.

AFL-CIO Committee Membership:

Vice President of the AFL-CIO and Executive Council

Currently Serves on:

Civil Human Rights committee; Organizing Committee; Working Families committee; AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department (TTD) oversight and finance Committee, and other add hoc assignments.