Bulletin Board

Thomas J. Cleary is a third-generation member of Local Union No. 3 who was born and raised in Rockaway Beach, New York.

He has been married to his Wife Maureen for 30 years and they have three children, Thomas, Lauren and Matthew.

Tom was initiated into Local Union No. 3 on October 15,1986 as a member of the Supply Division, employed by City Electric. He entered the apprenticeship program on May 9, 1988 and received his "A" Joumeyman card on October 13, 1994. As an apprentice, Tom attended the Harry Van Arsdale Jr. Center for Labor Stud-ies where he earned an associate degree in 1992. In 2012, Tom returned to Empire State College earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Labor Studies. He is a member of the Catholic Council of Electrical Workers, the Allied Union Club of Queens, and the Westchester Mechanics Association.

As a member of L.U. #3, Tom has worked mainly in supervisory positions as a sub-foreman and foreman on Electrical, Fire Alarm and Tele-Data Installations. He has advanced his studies in the electrical field through attending classes given through the Educational and Cultural Trust Fund of the Electrical Industry and has received three certificates for attending the 64th and 65th and 70th International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plan Conferences.

Tom began his work for the union through his involvement with the Affiliated Clubs, as well as, working as a teller for the General Election of Officers, being a part of the Labor Day Parade Committee and being elected to the Wage and Policy Committee. He served as President of the Allied Union Club Scholarship Fund from 2001 - 2005 and served as the Allied Clubs President from 2005 to 2007. On April 9, 2007, The Executive Board of Local 3, upon the recommendation of Business Manager, Christopher Erikson, elected Tom to the position of Executive Board member to fill the unexpired term of Brother Elliot Hecht. He served as an Executive Board member until July 27, 2009, when asked to serve as the Recording Secretary of Local Union No. 3. On October 15, 2018, Tom was appointed to the position of Business Representative. Tom served as both Recording Secretary and Business Representative until resigning on November 25, 2019, whereby the Executive Board elected him to the position of President of Local Union No. 3.

Tom further serves as President for the I.B.E. W. Disaster Fund, Director of the Electrical Workers Death Benefit Society, President of the Harry Van Arsdale Jr. Memorial Association, and is a member of the Electrical Workers Minority Caucus. He serves as Treasurer of the Joint Industry Board of Electrical Workers and is a member of the Joint Industry Board Oversight Committee. In addition, he serves as Trustee to nineteen (19) Joint Industry Board Plans.

Tom has represented the members of Local 3 as a Delegate to the IBEW Safety Caucus, the IBEW 3rd District Progress Meetings from 2007 thru 2025, The NYS AFL-CIO Constitutional Convention and the 38th, 39th and 40th I.B.E.W. Constitutional Conventions.

He has been recognized as "Man of the Year" for his work on behalf of the members of Local Union No. 3 by the Brooklyn Bedsole Kingsborough Club, The Catholic Council of Electrical Workers, the Asian American Cultural Society, the Allied Union Club of Queens and the Amber Light Society. In 2025, Tom was recognized by the IrishEcho newspaper as an Irish Labor Ambassador for his contributions to the labor movement.