CWA’s Dick Johnson, past president of Minneapolis Central Labor Union Council, dies at 89

By Steve Share, Minneapolis Labor Review editor

MINNEAPOLIS — Richard O. “Dick” Johnson, who served two terms as president of the Minneapolis Central Labor Union Council from 1996 to 2001, died June 20, 2024. He was 89 years old.

Family members and union colleagues celebrated Johnson’s life at a memorial service July 1, 2024 at Trinity Lutheran Church of Minnehaha Falls in Minneapolis.

Johnson grew up in south Minneapolis and graduated from Central High School in 1953. In 1955, he went to work for Northwestern Bell telephone company and joined Communications Workers of America Local 7250. His first job at Northwestern Bell: emptying coins from pay phones. He went on to work in cable splicing, line crew, and residential repair.

Johnson won appointment as CWA Local 7250’s chief steward in 1968, then won election as treasurer and next as first vice president. Elected Local 7250 president, he served 16 years — longer than any previous president.

“Dick and I met when I was 17 years old and came to work at the phone company,” recalled Dawn Schnickels-

Johnson, who went on to become treasurer of CWA Local 7200. She spoke of Johnson as “my friend, my mentor” and “one of the kindest men I ever met.”

“He treated his job in the union… with dignity and he treated our members with dignity and respect,” she said.

“Growing up, he would tell us stories about his time with the labor union and how he would help people,” grandchild Taylor recalled.

Sharon Sayles Belton served as Minneapolis mayor during Johnson’s time as CLUC president and remembered Johnson as “a tough negotiator.” She added, “at the end of the day, he cared about the city and so did I… At the end of the day, he always cared deeply about the men and women who were the workers of the city.”

“The workers of the labor movement loved him,” commented former Minnesota AFL-CIO president Bill McCarthy, who succeeded Johnson as CLUC president. “He was respected by the workers, by other labor leaders and by the politicians… He was able to get a lot of things done.”

When Johnson announced his decision to retire, he told the Minneapolis Tribune: “I had certain things I wanted to accomplish and I have done that.” He cited growing the CLUC from 45,000 members to 60,000 members during his time as president and seeing local unions become more involved in city and state politics. “We have become more influential in the political process,” he said.

Prior to winning election as CLUC president in 1996, Johnson previously served for nine years as secretary-treasurer of the central labor body (now the Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation).

Johnson also served as president of the CWA Minnesota State Council.

In addition, Johnson helped create and co-chaired the Twin Cities Area Labor Management Committee.