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Just elected to head the 65,000-member Building Trades Council of Nassau and Suffolk, Richard O'Kane said he wasn't looking for another job. But when current union chief James Castellane announced plans to retire because of health concerns, O'Kane decided to answer the call. O'Kane, the business manager for Ironworkers Local 361 and a resident of Brightwaters, is due to take over in June.
A union ironworker for 42 years, O'Kane, now 63, was an apprentice when he worked his first gig: Building a hangar at MacArthur Airport in 1970. He's also worked on repairing the Brooklyn Bridge and helped build Stony Brook University. Now, getting the 36 locals under the Building Trades umbrella back to full employment is Job One.
LIBN: How has your experience as business manager of Ironworkers Local 361 prepared you to lead the 36 locals of the Building Trades?
O'KANE: Because our problems are everybody else's problems. I think I've established a decent reputation, and based on that and my efforts in the industry to keep it union and maintain the quality of life. That's what we're looking for.
LIBN: How is your own local doing these days?
O'KANE: It's been ups and downs in the industry. Right...