Thomas Kelly
Current Company and Position: President Passaic County Central Labor Council, President Telephone & Communication Workers Emerald Society, Executive Board/Business Agent IBEW Local 827, 1st Vice President American Labor Museum.
First Job: Hot Tar Roofing (non Union).
What it taught me: The need to be in a Union and the strength it bought.
Best advice you could give someone starting out: Enjoy every minute you can, especially with loved ones because life is short and work hard there's no substitute for hard work in any task you have.
Who is your hero and why? My father. My father was 1 of 11 children born to Irish immigrant parents. He was forced to drop out of school in 7th grade and go to work in order to help support his large family. He enlisted in the United States Army with 3 of his brothers at the start of WW II. After the war he married my mother and they had 8 children of their own. My father worked multiple jobs for the rest of his life to support his family, his aging mother and his alcoholic brother. One of the jobs he worked was in an eyeglass factory on the lower East Side. The job didn't pay much, but it made him a Member of the United Optical Workers Union. That Union provided much needed benefits for our family and plainly showed all of us the importance of being a Union Member. My father was dealt with many tough blows over the course of his life, including losing his beloved wife Mary at a young age and his son Peter. But in spite of everything my father always had an extremely upbeat attitude, especially when surrounded by his immediate and extended family. His laughter would echo through every building we were in and his love for his entire family, cousins, nieces, nephews, in-laws etc. was always on full display for all to see. My father knew life was short and our time here is brief, so enjoy the people who mean something to you as much as you can. It's a lesson I carry to this day.
Biography: Tom Kelly is currently the President of the Passaic County Central Labor Council, President Telephone & Communication Workers Emerald Society, 1st Vice President American Labor Museum, Business Agent/Executive Board IBEW Local 827, Chairman IBEW Local 827 COPE and Advisory Council on Career and Life Strategies Committees, Member of the NJ Workforce Development Board, Member IBEW 3rd District Veterans Committee and Member NJ AFL-CIO Appeals and Grievance Committee.
Prior to holding those positions, Tom was an Alternate Steward, Steward, Grievance Chairman, Chief Steward, Safety and Tech Change Committee Member, Delegate to the 39th and 40th IBEW Conventions for Local 827 and has represented Local 827 and the Passaic County Central Labor Council at countless rallies, picket lines and conferences.
In his community, he has been overwhelmingly elected to the Emerson Board of Education, was President of the Emerson Parents For Athletes (raising over $150,000 in 3 years), President/Officer/Coach Emerson Soccer, Softball, Baseball, Football and Wrestling Recreation programs and member Emerson Athletic Hall of Fame Committee.
Over his career, Tom has been recognized many times, including receiving the Verizon Foundation Volunteer Service Award and Grant 8 consecutive years (2008-2014), The NY/NJ Blood Services Lifesaver Award for “Efforts Above and Beyond” 2 consecutive years (2004-2005) the NJ National Guard “Heroes Helping Heroes“ award 2 consecutive years (2005-2006), Grand Marshal the American Labor Museum Labor Day Parade 2024, recipient Giblin Association Community Service Award (2022), honoree Wimberly Evening of Hope (2023), Paterson “Hibernian of the Year” (2024), Passaic County “Irishman of the Year”(2024), Knights of Columbus “Gideon Award” recipient (2024), National Finalist FHE Health Community Impact Award, Bergen County Central Labor Council “Community Service Award recipient (2025), Passaic County Education Association “Joseph Cheff Friend of Education Award recipient, inducted Emerson Athletic Hall of Fame (2018), selected to throw out the first pitch by Emerson Baseball & Softball Opening Day (2011).
