William (Bill) Hennessey has union blood running through his veins. From the time he can remember, he would listen to his father Harry Hennessey Sr. – who ran Local 342 for 34 years – on the phone early in the morning and late at night talking with members about a multitude of labor issues, including grievances. When he was on vacation from school, Bill would travel with his father to different worksites, absorbing whatever knowledge he could at a young age, and watching his father in action. By the time Bill was in college, he had a job on the Circle Line Cruises, and at just 19 years old, was already serving as a Committee Member on the Negotiations Team responsible for new contracts. On July 1, 1989, Bill became a full-time employee of Local 342, LIPSE and was appointed a Business Agent by the Executive Board. In 1996, he was elected as the Local’s Secretary-Treasurer, and eight years late in 2004, was elected as President and General Manager. In his current position, Bill serves on all Local 342 Committees as the Chairman.