American labor union leader
Edward C. Sullivan is a former American labor union leader.
Born in Boston, Sullivan became an assistant elevator mechanic in 1964, and joined the International Union of Elevator Constructors. 17 years later, he was elected as business manager of his union local. In the post, he campaigned for democratic reforms in the international union. This was successful, and in 1996, he was appointed as assistant to the union's president, and then in 1998 he won election as president of the union.
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. On election, he faced opposition from some affiliates, which culminated in the resignation of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America. However, he won over the remaining affiliates and solidified his position.
Sullivan was also elected as a vice-president of the AFL-CIO. From 2003, he served as secretary-treasurer of Ullico. 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.
In 1997, Sullivan received the Gompers-Murray-Meany Award, the top award of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO.