Francis X. McCartin, long-time business manager of the Chicago Pipefitters Local 597 and one of the country's most prominent UA officials, died of cancer Sept. 29 in his Oak Lawn, Ill., home. He was 83.
Like his father before him, McCartin joined the pipe-fitting business and worked in commercial and industrial facilities. He began to crusade for fair wages and benefits for fellow pipe fitters after the Depression, and served Local 597 for 43 years.