Bennett, Isaiah, 1926-2002.

Isaiah Bennett was born in McClellanville, S.C. September 19, 1926 and died February 24, 2002. He moved to Charleston and was employed at the American Tobacco Company's "Cigar Factory" in 1942. He was drafted in WWII and served with the US Army from 1943-1946. He returned to work at the Cigar Factory until his retirement in 1973. Active in Union work, he served as the business director for the local tobacco workers union (Local 15A of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union) and state director of the National Hospital Workers. He played a key role as a leader and negotiator of the Charleston Hospital Worker's Strike of 1969. In 1969 he joined the staff of the Local 1199-B of the AFL-CIO. He also founded and was president of the Charleston chapter of the A. Philip Randolph Institute, an umbrella organization for black trade unions. Bennett was active in politics and ran unsuccessfully for Charleston County Council in 1980.