Arthur Coia

Coia in April 2005

Arthur A. Coia (March 21, 1943 – July 10, 2025) was an American labor union leader.

Life and career

Born in Providence, Rhode Island, Coia's father, Arthur E. Coia, was a prominent activist in the Laborers' International Union of North America (LIUNA). The younger Coia studied at La Salle Academy, Providence College, and Boston University School of Law and practiced as a lawyer.[1]

Coia also became business manager of the Rhode Island Laborers' District Council. In 1981, he was charged, alongside his father, with conspiracy in dealing with union funds.[2] The charges were dropped,[3] and his union career progressed; he became manager of LIUNA's New England and Eastern Canada region, and then in 1989 succeeded his father as secretary-treasurer of the union.[4][5]

In 1993, Coia was elected as president of the LIUNA. In the role, he was a supporter of Bill Clinton.[6] In addition, he served as a vice-president of the AFL-CIO.[4] While president of the union, he was noted for his collection of luxury cars. He suffered with Hodgkin's disease and prostate cancer, recovering from both. He was accused of ties to organized crime, but a three-year investigation cleared him of the charge. However, he was fined $100,000 for using a union supplier to facilitate purchasing a Ferrari.[3][5][7]

Coia retired from his union posts in 1999. In 2001, he founded the Arthur Coia Group, a management and labor relations consultancy.[1]

Coia died on July 10, 2025, at the age of 82.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b "Arthur A. Coia Esq". Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
  2. ^ "Union figures are arraigned". New York Times. October 4, 1981.
  3. ^ a b Greenhouse, Steven (March 10, 1999). "Laborers' Union President Is Cleared of Links to Mob". New York Times.
  4. ^ a b "Vice President Arthur A. Coia". AFL-CIO. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
  5. ^ a b "All in the family". Washington Post. October 3, 1999.
  6. ^ "Who is Arthur Coia?". Wall Street Journal. July 24, 1996. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
  7. ^ Greenhouse, Steven (December 7, 1999). "Embattled Head of Laborers Union Announces His Retirement". New York Times.
  8. ^ "Former labor powerhouse Arthur A. Coia dies. What we know". The Providence Journal. Retrieved July 11, 2025.
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