WNYLaborToday.com Editor’s Note: International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 106 Business Manager David Wilkinson and his Wife, Kim, pose for a Photo taken at Bergman Park in Jamestown on Sunday (September 1st) beside a List of the Past Recipients of the George Ritzer Memorial Labor Award.  Wilkinson - who has Played Such a Prominent Role in Organized Labor Not Only in Jamestown, but Across Chautauqua County -  became the 30th Recipient of the Ritzer Award, which is Yearly Bestowed on an Individual within the Local Labor Movement Who Also Contributes and Volunteers His or Her Time to the Jamestown Community.  (PHOTO COURTESY OF KIM WILKINSON VIA THE SOCIAL NETWORK FACEBOOK)

(JAMESTOWN) – Maybe it was the Fact that International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 106 Business Manager David Wilkinson had Gotten an Appointment Pushed by Republican County Executive Greg Edwards to the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency (IDA) “Shot Down” or that Wilkinson had Successfully Got County Officials to Agree to Adopt a Local Hire Provision when Awarding Taxpayer Dollars on Construction Projects. 

Regardless, Edwards Did Something that’s Never Been Done Before by a Chautauqua County Executive on Sunday (September 1st).  Edwards Did Not Participate in this Year’s George Ritzer Labor Award Presentation that was held in Jamestown’s Bergman Park, Opting Instead – according to Wilkinson – to “Drop Off” a County Proclamation Recognizing the IBEW Business Manager as the 2013 Ritzer Award Winner Instead of Personally Making the Presentation to Wilkinson.

“It was Definitely a Swipe at Me,” Wilkinson told WNYLaborToday.com this week.  “It’s the First Time, I believe, a County Executive ‘Has Not’ Participated in the Event.  He actually ‘Handed Off’ a County Proclamation to a Jamestown (AFL-CIO) Labor Council Executive Board Member and Didn’t Show Up for the Event Itself.  He Chose to Drive Away.  I know that We (Wilkinson and Edwards) Haven’t Seen ‘Eye to Eye,’ but it’s the ‘First Time’ in Fifteen Years a Chautauqua County Executive ‘Has Not Participated’ in the Event.  In Fact, (Edwards) was there Last Year to Make the Presentation.”

Edwards Might Also Have Been “Ticked,” Wilkinson added, because of the Jamestown AFL-CIO Central Labor Council’s Support of Fredonia Businessman Ron Johnson, who is Running for County Executive.  Edwards is Leaving the County Executive’s Office to Assume the CEO Responsibilities of CEO of Jamestown's Gebbie Foundation, a Development Organization that is involved in the Revitalization of Downtown Jamestown through Investments in Community and Economic Development Initiatives.  “They Chose Edwards after an ‘Exhaustive’ Search,” Wilkinson Sarcastically Deadpanned.

The IBEW Local 106 Business Manager, meanwhile, told Your Regional, On-Line Labor Newspaper that he was “Honored” by being this year’s Recipient of the Ritzer Labor Award.

“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,” Wilkinson said.  “It was Very Special to me.  My Wife, Mother and Daughter were there too.”

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 Jack Rudy, who Presently Serves as president of the Jamestown Central Labor Council and a member of CSEA (Civil Service Employees Association) Local 807

Wilkinson has been a Member of IBEW - which Represents 176 Inside Journeyman Wiremen, 30 Apprentice Wiremen and 15 Waste Water Treatment Workers - since December 1986.  During that time, Wilkinson has 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.

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.

WNYLaborToday.com Editor’s Note: Additional Background Information on Wilkinson comes Courtesy of Jamestown’s Daily Newspaper - The Jamestown Post Journal.