Iowa - In Memoriam: Andrew J. English

Andrew J. English 

Photo Credit:

Jon Melegrito

Des Moines, Iowa

Andrew (“Andy”) English, who spent more than a decade as a dedicated AFSCME communications specialist, died Feb. 19 from injuries sustained in a car accident in Nebraska. He was 50.

English joined the International Union’s Public Affairs department in 1998. He worked on several of AFSCME campaigns, including the four-month strike at Illinois’ Beverly Farm, in 1999, the state’s largest private residential facility for disabled adults; the ongoing battle in Chicago’s Resurrection Health Care system, whose employees have been trying since 2003 to form a union with Council 31; the successful five-year struggle by 400 employees of Walker Methodist Health Center in Minneapolis to win a first contract with Council 5; and the effort to prevent the closure of Bellefontaine Habilitation Center in St. Louis.

In September 2008, English became the public relations/communications specialist for Iowa Council 61. He was responsible for telling the news media about the union’s members and the council’s activities. He served as a voice for council members on matters affecting their jobs and their efforts to build a strong future through AFSCME.

Iowa Council 61 Pres. Danny Homan, also an International vice president, said English “was the kind of person who put the people he worked for ahead of himself. The 40,000 public employees represented by Council 61 were well served by Andy’s work.”

Council 61 has established a fund for English’s widow. Contributions can be made to Flo English and sent to: AFSCME Council 61, 4320 NW 2nd Ave., Des Moines, IA 50313, attn: Mark Frymoyer. Cards and letters also should be sent through the union.