WNYLaborToday.com Editor’s Note: International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 106 Business Manager David Wilkinson (Pictured Above/WNYLaborToday.com Photo) has Accepted the Nomination to Become the New President of the Jamestown AFL-CIO Central Labor Council.  Wilkinson will Formally Take the Reigns from Out-Going and Long-Time Jamestown Labor Council President Jack Rudy Later This Month.  His Early Goals are to Improve the Jamestown Council and the Chautauqua County Labor Coalition, as well as Focus Labor’s Countywide Efforts on Saving the County Home in Dunkirk from Privatization and the NRG Power Plant in that Same City.  On Another Note - Wilkinson and Several Other Chautauqua County/Jamestown Labor Leaders will be Featured in a Labor News Video Report on the Southern Tier Labor Movement in the November-December Edition of WNYLaborToday.com’s Western New York Labor News… NOW! Labor News TV Program - Which Will Air on WNYLaborToday.com’s Front Page Later This Week.

(JAMESTOWN) - International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 106 Business Manager David Wilkinson has Accepted the Nomination to Become the New President of the Jamestown AFL-CIO Central Labor Council. 

Wilkinson, who will Formally Take the Reigns from Out-Going and Long-Time Jamestown Labor Council President Jack Rudy Later This Month, Plans to Continue to Improve the Jamestown Labor Council and the Chautauqua County Labor Coalition (Which Joins the Forces of the Dunkirk and Jamestown AFL-CIO Labor Councils), As Well As Focus Labor’s Countywide Efforts on Saving the County Home in Dunkirk From Privatization and Repower the Dunkirk NRG Power Plant.

“I Was a Little Bit Apprehensive, But I Think It’s Necessary for Me,” Wilkinson Told WNYLaborToday.com.  He was Nominated by Civil Service Employees Association Local 807/Unit 6300 President Steve Skidmore at the Jamestown Labor Council’s November Meeting, Which – Ironically – was Held at IBEW Local 106’s Union Hall.  “I Had to Come Out of a Labor History Class that I was Teaching at the Local on the History of the IBEW and Unions in General (To Accept the Nomination),” he said.

Regarding His Future Plans to Continue to Grow the Jamestown Council, Wilkinson Told Your Regional, On-Line Labor Newspaper that he would be “Reaching Out” to More and More Unions to Reaffiliate with the Southern Tier Labor Organization.  Recently, Increased Involvement by the Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA), the New York United Teachers (NYSUT) Union, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), and the Southwestern New York Building & Construction Trades Council has Helped to Rejuvenate the Council, he said.

“I Plan A Lot of Outreach to Get More Unions and Their Members Involved in the Council.  That Will Be the Biggest Drive, to Increase Membership and Attendance at Our Monthly Meetings So All Know What’s Going On and How They Can Get Involved,” Wilkinson said.

Wilkinson has been a Member of Jamestown-Headquartered IBEW Local 106 - which Represents 176 Inside Journeyman Wiremen, 30 Apprentice Wiremen and 15 Waste Water Treatment Workers - since December 1986.  During that time, He’s Served as a Union Steward for Local 106, an Executive Board Member (from 1991 to 1992), Vice President (1992-95), and Business Manager/Financial-Secretary (2007 to Date).  He also Serves as Local 106’s Training Director for the Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee (JATC), and Co-Chairman to the Union’s Trust Funds Committee.

On Another Front, Wilkinson is also Extremely Involved in the Jamestown/Chautauqua County Community.  He hold Seats on Several Boards, including: The Chautauqua County Workforce Investment Board; Cattaraugus County Workforce Investment Board; The Southwestern New York Building & Construction Trades Council, where he Serves as its Vice President; The Jamestown Area Labor Coalition as a Delegate; The Dunkirk Area Labor Coalition as a Delegate; The Chautauqua County Labor Coalition as Chairman; The United Way of Southern Chautauqua County Board of Directors; and Chautauqua County Workers' Memorial Committee.

Earlier this year, Wilkinson was Presented with the We Are One Award by the Western New York AFL-CIO Area Labor Federation (WNYALF) for his Efforts in Assisting and Mobilizing on Behalf of the Workers and Residents of the Chautauqua County Home, as well as the Entire Chautauqua Community.  

On Yet Another Front, Wilkinson is Currently and Heavily Involved in the Fight to Repower the Dunkirk NRG Facilities and Sits on the Board of PowerUp Western New York, Which is Trying to Save the Plant.  In Fact, Wilkinson is Out in Front of a Major Rally (See Flier Below) to Repower the Dunkirk NRG Plant, which will be Held on Saturday, December 7th - Beginning at 11 a.m.  The Rally is a Continuing Effort to Create Jobs, Lower Energy Costs, Improve the Environment and Strengthen Western New York’s Economy. (WNYLaborToday.com Editor’s Note: For More Information, Visit www.powerupwny.org). 

In September, Wilkinson was Presented with Jamestown’s Annual George Ritzer Labor Award.  At the Time, the IBEW Local 106 Business Manager Told Your Regional, On-Line Labor Newspaper He Was “Honored” by Being This Year’s Recipient: “The Biggest Honor, For Me, is Being Acknowledged by Your Labor Peers and Being Added to a List of (Labor Leaders) that I’ve Looked Up to Over the Years.  It was Very Special to Me.”

In his Acceptance Speech, Wilkinson Made Those in Attendance Aware of the Importance of Working People Across Jamestown and Chautauqua County: “Cash Registers Don’t Ring… Meals Are Not Served… and Concrete Isn’t Poured ‘Without’ Labor and Our Young People are Counting on Us to Keep the ‘American Dream’ Going.”

Wilkinson was Presented with a Memorial Plaque and Medallion from the Jamestown Central Labor Council, as well as Formal Congratulatory Proclamations from the Jamestown’s Mayor’s Office and the Chautauqua County Executive.

The Jamestown Labor Award was Named after George Ritzer, a Jamestown-Area Labor Leader who served as President of the Jamestown Central Labor Council for More than 20 years, as well as President of United Food & Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1.  Past awardees include: The Late Cattaraugus/Allegany AFL-CIO Central Labor Council President Hobart Rhinehart (a member of the New York State United Teachers); and Rudy, Who Has Served as President of the Jamestown Labor Council for Nearly 20 Years and is a Member of CSEA Local 807.