(JAMESTOWN) – In late January, IBEW (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers) Local 106 Business Manager David Wilkinson will be elected as the newest member – and fourth representative of Organized Labor – on the board of directors of the United Way of Southern Chautauqua County, an opportunity that Wilkinson tells WNYLaborToday.com he not only looks forward to, but hopes will further work to wipe away any negative stereotypes that those in the Jamestown Community might still harbor about Organized Labor and Labor Unions.

“Much like Local 106 and our members, I’ve got to admit that I’m a ‘community guy,” Wilkinson said.  “It’s a great thing that I was even considered.  I’m interested in helping and I’m excited to be involved in the United Way because Organized Labor ‘should’ be involved in such worthwhile community efforts.”

Wilkinson was nominated to the United Way board by the Jamestown AFL-CIO Central Labor Council, which was looking for a candidate to replace board member Michael Dye of Carpenters Local 66, who will be stepping down in January.  CSEA (Civil Service Employees Association) Local 807 Representative Steve Skidmore, retired IBEW Local 459 Representative Gary Sorenson and retired NYSUT (New York State United Teachers) Labor Relations Specialist Steve Maggio will continue to hold Labor’s three other seats on the United Way board.

Wilkinson said he also had some experience working with the local United Way, serving on an Allocation Committee at one time and having the responsibility to review requests for funding in order to determine whether the groups’ requests were “cause worthy.”

Wilkinson, meanwhile, is hoping to also make positive contacts in the local business community because “they pay off ten-fold” down the line.

“There are a number of prominent people from the business community who sit on that board, and there are a lot of people out there who are still afraid of (Labor).  There are a lot of old stereotypes still floating around.  They need to know who we are and what we do and how (Organized Labor) can be of assistance.  We are blue-collar Labor people, people who are ‘always’ there and ‘always’ willing to step up and help.  We do things like this as ‘a way of life.’  Hey, we’re the nicest people in the world.  Hopefully, as they see and watch our involvement, they’ll start talking about the many good things that Organized Labor and our members do across this community,” Wilkinson told WNYLaborToday.com.  

Jamestown AFL-CIO Central Labor Council President Rudy said during the Council’s monthly delegates meeting that WNYLaborToday.com recently attended: “We’ve been fortunate here in Jamestown of have built such a good rapport with the United Way.  It’s also part of the AFL-CIO’s mission to support local United Ways and we have to make sure that we bend over backwards to make sure our Unions are involved.”

“Labor is a big part of the United Way here in Jamestown and it’s absolutely a good thing Labor is involved in the United Way,” the IBEW’s Sorenson told WNYLaborToday.com during a recent interview.  “And for the United Way to be successful, Labor ‘has’ to be involved.  The United Way is helping a lot of our Union Brothers and Sisters who are in need.  And by being involved, you learn how hard the United Way works to distribute the monies that are raised so it meets the need.  Labor gets such a bad (public) rap and we need to get that positive impression out to our members too.”

Michael Moots, who’s leaving the United Way of Southern Chautauqua County for a position with the Jamestown Community College Foundation after serving as the non-profit’s executive director of for the past 20 years, knows first hand the worth of working with and involving Organized Labor in the United Way’s mission of serving the Jamestown area. 

During a recent interview with WNYLaborToday.com, Moots said: “Our relationship is strong and we’re continuing to build our relationship with Organized Labor, which has led to a lot of positive results.  The point is that we appreciate the support we receive from Labor, which supports and assists Working People, and the United Way of Southern Chautauqua County and Organized Labor share similar values - even though we do what we do it in different settings.”

According to additional information posted on its website – www.uwayscc.org – “The United Way of Southern Chautauqua County has evolved from simply a fundraising organization to become a true community builder.  The United Way now takes an active role in developing programs that enhance the quality of life throughout Southern Chautauqua County.  By acting as a partner with health and human service agencies, schools, government and the faith community, your United Way works year round, connecting people to programs, and programs to other programs, in order to change and improve lives.”

In regards to Wilkinson, Moots told WNYLaborToday.com: “From what I understand, (Wilkinson) has a long history of community involvement and commitment.  He enjoys what the United Way does and wants to be part of it, and he represents a Union Organization that is always making a difference here in the Jamestown Community.  This will continue our substantial and positive relationship with Organized Labor.”

Wilkinson, a Union Member for 25 years, is serving his second term and fourth year as Business Manager of IBEW Local 106, which represents 190 wiremen and 12 local wastewater plant workers in Jamestown/Chautauqua County. 

Chartered in 1899 and having celebrated its 100th birthday in 1999, Local 106 has around 40 local signatory contractors and is affiliated with the Western New York/Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA). 

The Union’s membership has been hard at work during the past several months on number of area projects, including the on-going $20 million Jamestown Community College’s Science Building and the nearby $20 million Seneca Nation Sports Complex.