Art Takei; Labor Activist for Asian Americans

Art Takei, 73, a Japanese American interned during World War II who became a labor activist for all Asian Americans. A native of Los Angeles, Takei was a teenager when his family was taken to Arkansas during the war. Returning to Los Angeles, he worked as a grocery clerk and in 1954 began his labor career. He spent 40 years as negotiator, organizer, executive board member and assistant to the president of the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 770, one of the city’s largest unions. He recruited Asian Pacific Americans to join various unions and advance in leadership roles. In 1987, he formed the Alliance of Asian Pacific Labor. He also helped create the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance AFL-CIO, the first national labor organization for Asian Americans. Takei was a founding member and former president of Japanese Community Services and was the administrator for the Southern California Food and Drug Council. On Jan. 28 in Los Angeles.