John Harrity

John Harrity was the former President of the Connecticut State Council of Machinists – the electoral and legislative advocacy organization for more than 10,000 active and retired Machinists Union (IAM) members in Connecticut. The International Association of Machinists represents hourly workers at some of the state’s largest industrial employers, including Pratt & Whitney, Hamilton Sundstrand, Electric Boat and Stanley Works, as well as a number of non-industrial worksites.

John is also the Chair of the Connecticut Roundtable on Climate and Jobs.

John also directs a program called GrowJobsCT – an alliance of labor, business and community interests, along with concerned public officials, who work to find common ground on the retention and expansion of manufacturing jobs in the state. GrowJobsCT has been active for the past seven years, and is recognized for helping find common sense steps to proactively improve the business climate for manufacturers in Connecticut.

John has worked full-time for the International Association of Machinists since first being elected a Business Representative in 1986. Over the past 27 years, John has also served Connecticut members of the IAM as Communications Director, Legislative Coordinator and Organizer, and has participated in more than 19 contract negotiations with United Technologies Corporation.

John is a member of the Connecticut Employment and Training Commission, and serves as co-convener of CETC’s Advanced Manufacturing Work Group.  John is also a member of the board of the Workforce Alliance, is participating in the recently-convened Clean Energy Taskforce exploring a renewable energy R&D center at the Norwich Hospital site, and is a co-founder of the Connecticut Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Coalition.

John began working at Pratt & Whitney as a vertical turret lathe operator in 1979. He has a master’s degree in Union Leadership and Administration from the University of Massachusetts (2010) and a bachelor’s degree in English literature from the University of Connecticut (1975).

John’s wife, Cindy Harrity, is an organizer with CWA Local 1298. They live in East Hartland, CT.  They have three children and two grandchildren.