James Callahan (unionist)

James T. Callahan is an American labor union leader.

Callahan became an operating engineer in New York City in 1980, and joined the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE). He worked as a foreman on the clean-up team following the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, and responded immediately to the September 11 attacks on the building, working throughout the recovery efforts. He held various roles in his local union, becoming business manager and president in 2003.

Callahan was elected as a vice-president of the AFL-CIO in 2012. He was appointed as president of the IUOE the same year, winning an election the following year, to hold the post on an ongoing basis. He was given the Labor Leader award by the Irish Echo in 2015. He also serves as president of the New York Friends of Ireland, and in 2020 was appointed as Grand Marshal of the New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade. The parade was canceled due to COVID-19, but he finally filled the post in 2022.

Callahan is also a Board Member of the National Association for Fair Contracting (NAFC).