Robert L. "Bobby" Harnage (born 1940) is a former American labor union leader.

Harnage attended Macon College and the University of Georgia. He served in the United States Air Force from 1959, then from 1963 was a civilian employee at Robins Air Force Base. He joined the American Federation of Government Employees, and in 1968 began working full-time for the union. He served as a district national representative, then as a vice-president.[1][2]

In 1991, Harnage was elected as secretary-treasurer of the union, then in 1997 as president. The following year he was also elected as a vice-president of the AFL-CIO. As leader of the union, he increased membership, began using the internet to co-ordinate activities, and led an advertising campaign for recruitment. In 2003, he was narrowly defeated for re-election by John Gage, and he stood down from his AFL-CIO post the following year.[1][3][4]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Vice President Bobby L. Harnage, Sr". AFL-CIO. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  2. ^ Barr, Stephen (February 23, 1998). "New Union President Talks Tough On Pay Issues, Clinton Policies". Washington Post.
  3. ^ Lee, Christopher (August 22, 2003). "Challenger Ousts AFGE Leader: Harnage Defeated at Government Workers' Convention". Washington Post.
  4. ^ "Moultrian to run for president of union". Moultrie Observer. May 27, 2006.
Trade union offices
Preceded by
Allen H. Kaplan
Secretary-Treasurer of the American Federation of Government Employees
1991–1997
Succeeded by
Rita Mason
Preceded by President of the American Federation of Government Employees
1997–2003
Succeeded by