Harry Van Arsdale Jr.

Harry Van Arsdale Jr. (November 23, 1905 – February 16, 1986) was a labor and community leader in New York City. His father was a union electrician.

Van Arsdale in 1981

Van Arsdale was descended from 17th-century Dutch immigrants to New York and a descendant of John Van Arsdale, a Colonial army veteran of the American Revolutionary War, who climbed up a greased flagpole to retrieve a Union Jack flag which still flew during the evacuation of the British from New York. Van Arsdale was also related to noted historian James Riker.^[1]

Van Arsdale organized the Taxi Drivers Organizing Committee, which later became the New York City Taxi Drivers Union, Local 3036. He was elected as Local 3036's first President and was reelected in 1974.^[2][3]