William Usery

William Julian Usery Jr., born on December 21, 1923, was a prominent American labor union activist who served in several high‑level government positions during the mid‑20th century, including as United States Secretary of Labor under President Gerald Ford from 1976 to 1977. His career spanned military service, industrial work, union leadership, and federal appointments that shaped labor policy across multiple sectors.

Early life and career

Usery entered the world in Hardwick, Georgia, the son of Willie J. Usery and Effie Mae Williamson (later Phillips). He began his formal education at Georgia Military College, where he studied from 1938 until 1941. Immediately after leaving college, he worked as an underwater welder for the J. A. Jones Construction Company in Brunswick, Georgia, contributing to the construction of Liberty ships during a critical period of World War II.

In 1942, Usery married Gussie Mae Smith and enlisted in the United States Navy to meet the growing demand for naval welders. From 1943 until 1946 he served aboard a U.S. Navy repair ship operating in the Pacific theater. After the war, he returned to Georgia, where he worked as a steamfitter, welder, and machinist. He also attended Mercer University but did not complete a degree.

Usery’s union involvement began while he was employed at Armstrong Cork Company. On March 1, 1952, he helped co‑found Local Lodge 8 of the International Association of Machinists (IAM), which later became Local Lodge 918. Over time he held several elected positions within the local, ultimately becoming its president. While still working for Armstrong Cork, Usery served as IAM’s special representative at the U.S. Air Force Cape Canaveral Air Force Missile Test Center.

In 1956, after being elected a Grand Lodge Representative for the IAM, Usery retired from his day job to focus on union responsibilities. By 1961 he had become the union’s representative on the President’s Missile Sites Labor Commission. In this capacity he led labor negotiations and administered contracts at key aerospace facilities including Cape Canaveral AFMTC, John F. Kennedy Space Center, Marshall Space Flight Center, and Manned Spacecraft Center. In 1967 he was appointed by IAM to a labor‑management council at Kennedy Space Center, where he served as chair beginning in 1968.

Cabinet tenure

Usery’s federal career advanced when President Richard Nixon nominated him in February 1969 to serve as Assistant Secretary of Labor for Labor‑Management Relations. In that role he oversaw the implementation and enforcement of the Labor Management Reporting and Disclosure Act. He also played a key part in drafting and executing Executive Order 11491 on October 29, 1969, which granted collective bargaining rights to two million federal employees and established grievance procedures aligned with private industry practices.

During his tenure at the Department of Labor, Usery was involved in several high‑profile labor disputes. In April 1969 he helped avert a nationwide strike by the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen through continuous negotiations. He also resolved collective bargaining conflicts involving the Brotherhood of Railway and Airline Clerks and the United Transportation Union. Although some strikes could not be avoided—most notably the postal service strike that began on March 18, 1970—Usery’s participation in the negotiation team led to a settlement within two weeks. The agreement established a framework that contributed to the Postal Reorganization Act of 1970, which granted postal unions the right to negotiate wages, benefits, and working conditions. This period also saw the formation of the American Postal Workers Union on July 1, 1971, consolidating five federal postal unions into the largest postal workers union worldwide.

In 1971, during a temporary suspension of the Davis‑Bacon Act by President Nixon—a measure intended to curb inflationary pressures on construction wages—Usery and other officials persuaded the administration to reinstate enforcement. A new committee was created to review union contracts; its work led to a reduction in wage increases on federally funded projects from 14 % to 6 %.

In March 1973, Nixon appointed Usery as director of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS), an agency that provides arbitration and mediation services between employers and labor unions. His leadership at FMCS continued his focus on facilitating constructive dialogue in industrial relations.

Usery’s most prominent cabinet position came when President Gerald Ford nominated him to serve as United States Secretary of Labor. Confirmed by the Senate, he held the office from 1976 until 1977. In this capacity he oversaw national labor policy and administration of the Department of Labor’s programs during a period marked by economic challenges and evolving workforce dynamics.

Legacy

William Usery’s career reflects sustained engagement with labor issues across multiple arenas—industrial manufacturing, aerospace, federal employment, and postal services. His early work in union leadership at Armstrong Cork and within the IAM laid the groundwork for his later influence on national labor policy. As Assistant Secretary of Labor, he helped institutionalize collective bargaining rights for federal workers through Executive Order 11491, a milestone that aligned public sector practices with those of the private sector.

Usery’s role in resolving the 1970 postal strike and contributing to the Postal Reorganization Act had lasting effects on the organization and bargaining power of postal unions. The formation of the American Postal Workers Union under his negotiated framework created a unified voice for postal employees, shaping labor relations within one of the nation’s largest federal agencies.

His involvement in reinstating the Davis‑Bacon Act enforcement demonstrated a commitment to balancing wage standards with economic realities on federally funded construction projects. By establishing a review committee that moderated wage increases, he helped temper inflationary pressures while maintaining fair compensation for workers.

As director of FMCS, Usery continued to promote mediation and arbitration as tools for resolving industrial disputes, reinforcing the importance of dialogue in labor relations. His tenure as Secretary of Labor under President Ford capped a career dedicated to advancing equitable labor practices and strengthening institutional mechanisms that support both employees and employers.

Usery passed away on December 10, 2016, leaving behind a legacy characterized by pragmatic leadership, dedication to union rights, and significant contributions to the evolution of U.S. labor policy throughout the latter half of the twentieth century.