In Memoriam: Bill Doherty, AIFLD
Thursday, September 15, 2011
(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)William C. Doherty, 84, who
directed the AFL-CIO’s outreach to trade unions in Latin America for 35 years,
died Aug. 28, reports The Washington Post. Doherty was executive director of the
American Institute for Free Labor Development (the Solidarity Center’s
predecessor) under four AFL-CIO presidents, retiring in 1996. His work with the
institute involved traveling to 129 countries over the course of his career and
included assistance to exiled labor leaders, support for housing programs and
participation in programs to fight racial discrimination. Much of his work was
concentrated in Latin America. During World War II, Doherty was an aerial
photographer in Europe with the Army Air Forces. After the war, he worked in
Germany to help rebuild trade unions there. Before joining the American
Institute for Free Labor Development, Doherty served on the staffs of other
trade union organizations.
— Bart
Barnes, The Washington Post; click
here for the full obituary.