Tom Short (unionist)
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Thomas C. Short (born 1949) is a former American labor union leader.
Born in Cleveland, Short became a stagehand for the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra. In 1968, he followed his father and grandfather in joining the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees.[1] In 1975, he was charged with assaulting the reporter Jay Bacchus when he crossed a picket line, for which he was fined $800. In 1980, he was indicted, along with his father, accused of embezzling union funds, but the charges were dropped.[2] He was elected as an international vice-president of the union in 1988, and then in 1993 became the union's general secretary-treasurer. He was elected as president of the union in 1994.[3]
As leader of the union, Short signed a large number of agreements. He set up a Political Action Committee, and persuaded the United Scenic Artists to reaffiliate to the union. He also introduced the Individual Retirement Plan for union members on the West Coast.[1] The LA Times described him as "often is more ally than adversary to management".[2] Under his leadership, membership of the union increased by more than 50%.[4] In addition, he was elected as a vice-president of the AFL-CIO.[1]