John McMahon (Delaware)
John McMahon was the secretary of labor of Delaware. He was appointed to his position by Governor Jack Markell (D) in 2009. He announced his retirement on January 12, 2016, after months of allegations of workplace racism in the department. His last day was January 22, 2016.[1][2][3]
Biography
Before becoming secretary, McMahon was executive vice president of the Delaware Contractors Association for over 27 years; he spent 29 years with the Association overall. He also worked as chief of the Research, Statistics and Prevailing Wage Division of the Delaware Department of Labor and an employment and as labor-relations supervisor for Chrysler Corporation.[1][3]
Education
Political career
Secretary of labor 2009-2016
McMahon was appointed to his position by Governor Jack Markell in 2009. He retired in 2016.[1][2]
Retirement
Governor Markell received a report, shortly before Markell's retirement, by a coalition of black leaders that found that state employees were complaining of a racially hostile environment. The News Journal, a Wilmington, Del., newspaper, said the coalition, called the Committee on Racism in State Government and made up of black ministers and the NAACP, found widespread racism at the agency; one finding was that the department's Office of Anti-discrimination did not thoroughly investigate workplace complaints. McMahon said the coalition never provided the department information about specific cases of discrimination and, therefore, the department could not take action.[2][3]
The Office of Anti-discrimination found that only one of 190 claims of illegal discrimination brought by state employees between 2012 and June 2015 had merit.[3]
The day before announcing his retirement, McMahon told the News Journal that he "hadn't been told yet" by the governor whether he would keep his job as secretary. When he announced his retirement, McMahon said he chose to retire to spend more time with his family and that he was not forced out but had been planning to resign.[3]
Appointments
2009
McMahon was appointed as Delaware Secretary of Labor by Governor Jack Markell in 2009. As the secretary serves at the pleasure of the governor, McMahon was not subject to periodic reappointment.
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
McMahon and his wife, Joan, have two children. He is a native of Delaware.[1][3]
Recent news
This section links to a Google news search for the term "John + McMahon + Delaware + Labor"
See also
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Project VoteSmart, "Bio of John McMahon," August 16, 2011
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Don Rush, Delmarva Public Radio, "Delaware labor secretary retires amidst charges of racism in agency," January 13, 2016
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 Karl Baker, DelawareOnline, "Embattled Delaware labor secretary to retire," January 12, 2016
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| Preceded by ' |
Delaware Secretary of Labor 2009-2016 |
Succeeded by Patrice Gilliam-Johnson |
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