October 19, 2024
There are men who struggle for a day and they are good. There are men who struggle for a year and they are better. There are men who struggle many years, and they are better still. But there are those who struggle all their lives: These are the indispensable ones.
-Bertolt Brecht
We have lost an indispensable comrade, Ed Cloonan, who died on October 11 in Pittsburgh. Ed grew up in working-class Munhall, Pennsylvania. Early in life he studied for the priesthood, but took a job in the public sector after university. In a thirty eight year career working for the state of Pennsylvania, Cloonan rose to be the long-serving president of an independent public employees union, deeply committed to the welfare of the membership.
As president, he challenged management with a lawsuit seeking the promotion of African-American members who were underrepresented in management throughout Pennsylvania.
Ed carried on decades-long campaigns against privatization. Many believe that no one was more responsible for saving the publicly-owned wine and spirit stores in Pennsylvania from privatization by successive governors than Ed Cloonan.
During his years of union activity, Ed was invited to a World Federation of Trade Unions Congress in the German Democratic Republic. His experience there strengthened his ties to the global working class and clinched his unwavering commitment to Communism. He remained a lifelong admirer of the GDR, even after its demise.
After retirement, Ed remained active with the Medicare for All Movement, the fight to save Braddock Hospital, CLASS– a Pittsburgh-based class-struggle organization, the Thomas Merton Center, and Stop Banking the Bomb — a local peace group.
A devout Catholic, Ed delighted in the elevation of Pope Francis to the leadership of the Church. It can be said that Ed showed that you can be both dedicated to the Catholic faith and proudly committed to Communism, contributing to both in great measure.
Ed was an early and enthusiastic supporter of Marxism-Leninism Today, contributing in uncountable ways.
Ed Cloonan: ¡presente!
Red salute to comrade Cloonan! I worked with Ed for many years while I was at UE and Ed headed up the State Store Independent Union. Like most union reps we labored in obscurity, since those of us who did the work had little time to seek notoriety. The members backed us up and that was enough to expect. The battle against privatization is insidious, being pushed relentlessly by those who want to profit from the state structures should they succeed. Another stalwart fighter has fallen, so those of us remaining must bring forward new blood to continue the fight.… Read more »