Home Industries Longtime president of Council 94 dies at 70

Longtime president of Council 94 dies at 70

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PBN Staff

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08/13/2024

DowneyNeverquitcrop — J. MICHAEL DOWNEY, longtime president of the state’s largest public-sector employees union, has died at the age of 70. / COURTESY COUNCIL 94, AFSCME, AFL-CIO

PROVIDENCE – J. Michael Downey, longtime president of the state’s largest public-sector employees union, has died at the age of 70. Council 94, AFSCME, AFL-CIO announced his passing on Aug. 11. The cause of his death was not disclosed. “Mike Downey provided bold leadership and constantly fought to enhance the lives of all working Rhode

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PROVIDENCE – J. Michael Downey, longtime president of the state’s largest public-sector employees union, has died at the age of 70. Council 94, AFSCME, AFL-CIO announced his passing on Aug. 11. The cause of his death was not disclosed. “Mike Downey provided bold leadership and constantly fought to enhance the lives of all working Rhode Islanders,” Alexis Santoro, union executive director said in statement. “Council 94’s membership extends our deepest condolences to his wife, Claudette and their entire family.” In 2005, Downey was first elected president of Council 94, which represents more than 10,000 active and retired state, municipal and private-sector employees. He was reelected in 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022. Downey also served as the president of the largest local in Council 94, Local 528, which represents workers at the University of Rhode Island, for more than 27 years. “Mike was a kind, compassionate and strong union leader and family man, said union Executive President Mary Townsend. “His presence and leadership will be deeply missed.” As president, Downey championed and promoted policies and programs to increase member participation within the union. He expanded and enhanced the union’s political action committee and fundraising arm and worked tirelessly to protect members’ wages, working conditions and benefits. He prioritized Council 94’s organizing program, adding new locals within the last few years. Downey was employed as the chief plumbing investigator at the R.I. Department of Labor & Training and held a master plumber’s license. Prior to that, he worked as a plumber at URI for more than 27 years. Downey also served on the RI AFL-CIO executive board and was also a board member of the Rhode Island Institute of Labor Studies. He also served on URI’s Affirmative Action Committee for eight years. In the community, Downey was chairman of the Tax Assessment Review Board in Charlestown and co-chair of Serve Rhode Island. He was a former councilman in Charlestown and a former member of the state’s retirement board. Downey and his wife, Claudette, had been married for almost 50 years and had three children and nine grandchildren.