Bernard ‘Bernie’ McKinnon
In 1954, Bernie McKinnon joined his parents working at the Fafnir Bearing Company in New Britain, and in became a UAW member in 1955. In addition to his work with the Union, Bernie was always active in local politics and social justice issues. Many of his views on social justice were formed during his early years growing up with his four sisters and one brother in Caribou, Maine, picking potatoes and doing farm work, and during his early education at the Oblate of Mary Immaculate Seminary in Bucksport, Maine.
In 1963, Bernie got on the bus and marched in the Civil Rights March on Washington. He worked his way up through the ranks of his local from member to shop steward, eventually becoming a long time Local 133 President. Bernie served for many years on the Board of Directors for various organizations including Catholic Family Services, the New Britain United Way, the United Labor Agency (ULA) and the Community Council. As President, Bernie led a six month strike against the company in 1978.
Bernie went on to be elected the UAW Region 9A CAP President.In 1986, he took a staff job as UAW Region 9A CAP Director. In his capacity as CAP Director, Bernie had responsibility for making the voices of UAW members and all workers were heard at all the State Capitols throughout New England, personally lobbied in each one. Many Connecticut labor lobbyists and activists fondly recall getting help and learning the ropes of the State Capitol from Bernie in the years before the Legislative Office Building was built.
Bernie worked alongside Toby Moffett and John Flynn as CCAG was first organized. He was active in the Legislative Electoral Action Program (LEAP) and the Connecticut Caucus of Democrats. Bernie helped mobilize UAW political activity throughout Region 9A in local, state and Federal elections. He organized busloads of UAW members to volunteer in New Hampshire during the Presidential primaries.
In 1990, Bernie was recruited to Washington DC to work for the International UAW as a lobbyist. He spent more than twelve years on the Hill being a voice for all working people. Bernie gained the respect of members of congress on both sides of the aisle as being a ‘real and genuine’ person that would speak the plain truth about how an issue would directly affect working people in anyone’s district. While in DC, Bernie was active in his county Democratic Committee and served as a Trustee for the National Democratic Club.
Since his ‘retirement’ in 2002, Bernie returned to Connecticut to once again be active in his community. He served as a member of the Southington Democratic Town Committee and has worked on various election committees helping to elect labor friendly voices including Joe Aresimowicz and Zeke Zalaski. After September 11th, 2001 when ULA Executive Director Tom Bothur was called up to active military duty, Bernie stepped up as Acting Director of the ULA in Tom’s absence.
Bernie has served as a Trustee for the Southington Elks, still sits on the Board of Directors for CCAG, and the Board of Directors for the ULA. He is the President of the UAW Local 133 retiree chapter, a member of the Southington AARP, and a member of the CT Alliance of Retired Americans which honored him in 2014. Bernie has been married to Judie, his patient and understanding partner, for more than 55 years. He has three children, Ken and his wife Pam, Lisa, Jill and her husband Geoff, and has four grandchildren.