Christopher Erikson was born in Flushing, New York, and grew up in Electchester. He was accepted into Local 3's Electrical Apprenticeship Program in July 1975. During his apprenticeship, he enrolled in the Labor College, eventually renamed the Harry Van Arsdale Jr. School of Labor Studies (HVASLS), and earned Associate and Bachelor of Science Degrees in Labor/Management Relations. In March 1989, Brother Erikson was appointed a Business Representative.
In July 2000, he was appointed Assistant Business Manager of Local 3’s Maintenance Department. Throughout his career he has successfully negotiated over 150 collective bargaining agreements, resulting in improved pensions and benefits that provide a higher degree of security for tens of thousands of Local 3 members.
Upon the retirement of Thomas Van Arsdale in October 2006, Christopher Erikson was elected by the Executive Board to fill the unexpired term for the position of Business Manager and has been subsequently elected every three years since 2008.
He serves as a trustee on the plans of the Joint Industry Board (JIB) and on the Executive Boards of the New York City Building and Construction Trades Council and the NYC Central Labor Council. In January 2016, he was appointed by IBEW President-Emeritus Lonnie Stephenson to fill the unexpired term of Robert Pierson as Chairman of the IBEW International Executive Council (IEC) and was elected by the delegates to the 39th and 40th IBEW International Conventions. He additionally serves as President of the Electrical Workers Without Borders North America (EWWBNA).
Brother Erikson is a Director of the Harry Van Arsdale Jr. Memorial Association, board member of the Working Theater, delegate to the NY Hotel Trades Council, and served as Chairman of the Madison Square Garden Labor Committee. Christopher was President of the NY State Allied Printing Trades Council. He is a member of the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA), the IBEW Electrical Workers Minority Caucus (EWMC), and the NAACP.
Christopher Erikson has been honored by numerous union and political organizations including the State of Israel Bonds, the Jewish Labor Committee, and the NAACP NY Chapter at their 100th Anniversary in 2011. He received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor award, the APEC Green Living award, and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Electrical Workers Minority Caucus, among many other recognitions throughout his career.
Christopher Erikson, a proud Trade Unionist, has been married to his wife Denise for more than 40 years. They have four sons: Christopher Jr., Robert, Nicholas, and Thomas; and four grandchildren: Madeline, Owen, Dylan, and Ivy.
