[1] Young became president of the RCIU in 1963 at the age of 23, having run on a campaign to reform the union, making him the youngest labor leader in Pennsylvania at the time.
[4] Originally a staunch anti-communist, Young's views towards the ideology shifted in 1967 when he visited Brazil, and saw the local communists working with the Catholic Church in order to assist people.
[1] His opposition to the Vietnam War and ties to the New Left unnerved many members of the RCIU, who initiated impeachment proceedings against him, which Young survived by only one vote.
[5] The RCIU merged with the Amalgamated Meat Cutters in 1979, to form the United Food and Commercial Workers union, with Young remaining president of the combined local organization.
[6] Despite his stalwart progressivism, Young was an opponent of LGBT rights until late in his career, when he re-examined his views and worked to negotiate contracts to protect individuals from being fired for their sexual orientation.