Arthur Coia

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2025}}

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

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

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 (Rhode Island)|La Salle Academy]], [[Providence College]], and [[Boston University School of Law]] and practiced as a lawyer.<ref name="hof">{{cite web |title=Arthur A. Coia Esq. |url=http://riheritagehalloffame.com/Arthur-Coia/ |website=Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame |access-date=14 May 2023}}</ref>

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 (Rhode Island)|La Salle Academy]], [[Providence College]], and [[Boston University School of Law]] and practiced as a lawyer.<ref name="hof">{{cite web |title=Arthur A. Coia Esq. |url=http://riheritagehalloffame.com/Arthur-Coia/ |website=Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame |access-date=14 May 2023}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite news |title=Union figures are arraigned |work=New York Times |date=October 4, 1981}}</ref> The charges were dropped,<ref name="cleared">{{cite news |last1=Greenhouse |first1=Steven |title=Laborers' Union President Is Cleared of Links to Mob |work=New York Times |date=March 10, 1999}}</ref> 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.<ref name="aflcio">{{cite web |title=Vice President Arthur A. Coia |url=https://aflcio.org/about/leadership/statements/vice-president-arthur-coia |website=AFL-CIO |access-date=14 May 2023}}</ref><ref name="family">{{cite news |title=All in the family |newspaper=Washington Post |date=October 3, 1999}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite news |title=Union figures are arraigned |work=New York Times |date=October 4, 1981}}</ref> The charges were dropped,<ref name="cleared">{{cite news |last1=Greenhouse |first1=Steven |title=Laborers' Union President Is Cleared of Links to Mob |work=New York Times |date=March 10, 1999}}</ref> 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.<ref name="aflcio">{{cite web |title=Vice President Arthur A. Coia |url=https://aflcio.org/about/leadership/statements/vice-president-arthur-coia |website=AFL-CIO |access-date=14 May 2023}}</ref><ref name="family">{{cite news |title=All in the family |newspaper=Washington Post |date=October 3, 1999}}</ref>

In 1993, Coia was elected as president of the LIUNA. In the role, he was a supporter of [[Bill Clinton]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Who is Arthur Coia? |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB83816282965482000 |access-date=14 May 2023 |work=Wall Street Journal |date=July 24, 1996}}</ref> In addition, he served as a vice-president of the [[AFL-CIO]].<ref name="aflcio" /> 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.<ref name="cleared" /><ref name="family" /><ref>{{cite news |last1=Greenhouse |first1=Steven |title=Embattled Head of Laborers Union Announces His Retirement |work=New York Times |date=December 7, 1999}}</ref>

In 1993, Coia was elected as president of the LIUNA. In the role, he was a supporter of [[Bill Clinton]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Who is Arthur Coia? |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB83816282965482000 |access-date=14 May 2023 |work=Wall Street Journal |date=July 24, 1996}}</ref> In addition, he served as a vice-president of the [[AFL-CIO]].<ref name="aflcio" /> 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.<ref name="cleared" /><ref name="family" /><ref>{{cite news |last1=Greenhouse |first1=Steven |title=Embattled Head of Laborers Union Announces His Retirement |work=New York Times |date=December 7, 1999}}</ref>

Coia retired from his union posts in 1999. In 2001, he founded the Arthur Coia Group, a management and labor relations consultancy.<ref name="hof" />

Coia retired from his union posts in 1999. In 2001, he founded the Arthur Coia Group, a management and labor relations consultancy.<ref name="hof" />

Coia died July 10, 2025, at the age of 82.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/politics/2025/07/11/arthur-a-coia-former-labor-powerhouse-and-liuna-president-dies/84586741007/ |title=Former labor powerhouse Arthur A. Coia dies. What we know. |newspaper=[[The Providence Journal]] |url-access=subscription |access-date=July 11, 2025}}</ref>

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