The Man Who Hated Work and Loved Labor: The Life and Times of Tony Mazzocchi by Les Leopold

Reviewed by Bill Onasch - excerpt:

I had already pegged Tony as the most far sighted, class conscious American union leader of the post-World War II era. This new book reinforces that conviction.

Within the labor movement there are quite a few who recognize the indispensable role Tony Mazzocchi played, while serving as the legislative director of the Oil, Chemical & Atomic Workers (OCAW), in getting OSHA passed. Many know of his involvement with the struggle at Kerr-McGee that claimed the life of Karen Silkwood--immortalized in film by Meryl Streep. He became identified with the ups and downs of the fight for single-payer health care.

Fewer are aware of his probing pioneer work in building labor alliances with the civil rights, environmental, student, antinuclear and antiwar movements. And too few are aware of his final major project, the launching of the Labor Party.