Harry Van Arsdale Jr.

Harry Van Arsdale Jr. (November 23, 1905 – February 16, 1986) was a labor and community leader in New York City.

Van Arsdale was descendant from 17th century Dutch immigrants to New York and a descendant of John Van Arsdale, a Colonial army veteran of the American Revolutionary War, who climbed up a greased flagpole to retrieve a Union Jack flag which still flew during the evacuation of the British from New York.

Van Arsdale was also related to noted historian James Riker.

He was also a civil rights leader who met with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. During Van Arsdale's tenure as Business Manager of his union and the NYCCLC, he introduced employer-funded pension systems in the building trades and created a community for electrical workers and their families to live called Electchester in Queens, New York.

The New York City Central Labor Council is a non-profit labor membership organization devoted to supporting, advancing and advocating for its member organizations and all 'working class' people of New York City.