(WEST SENECA, NEW YORK) – BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York, Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 1133 Political Activist Terri Legierski and Save Our WNY Children’s Psychiatric Center Advocate Dave Chudy - a Public Employees Federation (PEF) Retiree, were among several honored Tuesday (December 12th) evening during the Buffalo AFL-CIO Central Labor Council’s annual Holiday Dinner.

“You ‘should all be proud of your accomplishments’ (in 2017),” Buffalo Labor Council President John Mudie, who was recently elected President of CWA Local 1122, told those in attendance at the dinner that was held at Ironworkers Local 6’s Banquet Facility in West Seneca.

Mudie then rattled off a number of those accomplishments, including: Organized Labor’s successful efforts – statewide – to crushingly defeat the proposed New York State Constitutional Convention in the November Election and the election of several Union Candidates, most notably Amherst Town Councilwoman Jacqui Berger, a Member of United University Professions (UUP) – (Read WNYLaborToday.com’s November 13th Labor News Report, Headlined: A Look Back At Election Day/November 2017: ‘Union Boss’ Jacqui Berger’s Amherst Town Council Victory ‘Highlights Labor’s Hard Work’ Here In Western New York).

Mudie also underscored the importance of Organized Labor giving back to the local community, including the Buffalo Labor Council-led drive, for the second year in a row, to gather new blankets for patients of all ages at Buffalo’s Children’s Hospital (Read WNYLaborToday.com’s November 22nd Labor News Report: The Buffalo AFL-CIO Labor Council & Its Affiliated Member Unions Embark On A ‘Labor Of Love’ – Join Donation Drive For New Blankets For Pediatric Patients Of All Ages At Buffalo’s Children’s Hospital), and the rebuilding of a front porch for an elderly woman in need in the City’s Fruit Belt Section (Read Your On-Line Labor Newspaper’s November 27th Labor News Report: Buffalo AFL-CIO Labor Council & Local Unions Heed The Call, Perform “Labor Of Love” Restoration Work On Fruit Belt Home To Support An Elderly Buffalonian In Need).

“These were ‘Labors of Love’ and (Labor) will continue to give back in 2018,” Mudie said. “And it was ‘truly a moving moment’ to ‘see Ms. (JoAnn) Anderson’s (the recipient of Labor’s work) face (when the porch job was finished).’  It ‘really pulled at your heartstrings.’”

Mudie then handed out several awards which recognized the following:

BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York (BCBWNY) received the Buffalo Labor Council’s Organizational Partner Award - The Office of Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU)-represented Health Care Company’s underwrites the cost of the Buffalo Labor Council’s post Labor Day Parade picnic in Cazenovia Park in South Buffalo, which has become a big hit over the years with area Unionists.  BCBSWNY President & CEO David Anderson (Pictured below with Buffalo Labor Council President Mudie, on the left) accepted the award on behalf of his team, which included Labor Reps Bob Butski, Kevin Donovan and Dennis Pawlik in attendance, as well as Paul Valley – BCBSWNY’s Senior Director/Strategic Accounts & Specialty Products, saying: “Four years ago when I came here from California, I met with (Western New York AFL-CIO Area Labor Federation President) Richard Lipsitz to talk about our relationship with Labor and to discuss ‘what we could do together.’  ‘I made a commitment to him at that time to start bringing back jobs to Buffalo and since then, we have’ - about (130 from out of town).  ‘Now, you can feel the difference inside our building between (OPEIU and management).’  And now after ten years of ‘not growing’ (our business), we have had growth in (2015, 2017 and 2017).  This is a ‘great success story.’”

CWA Local 1133 Political Activist Terri Legierski (Pictured below with Buffalo Labor Council President Mudie) was presented with the Council’s Labor Activist of the Year Award, with Buffalo Council President Mudie remarking: “Terri never met a picket line that she didn’t like.”  Answered Legierski: “People say you have to ‘love what you do’ and ‘I do.’”

PEF Retiree David Chudy (Pictured below with Buffalo Labor Council President Mudie) was recognized for his hard work in fighting to keep the Western New York Children’s Psychiatric Hospital in West Seneca, which is against the wishes of Governor Andrew Cuomo and State Officials, who want to incorporate the facility into the Adult Buffalo Psychiatric Center.  “David’s ‘never given up this fight and he’s done it for the kids, a fight that is now in its fifth year,’” Mudie said. 

Also receiving awards were: Asim Johnson of the Coalition for Economic Justice (CEJ), who received the Buffalo Labor Council’s Emerging Leadership Award; and Howard Stanger, a Management Professor at Buffalo’s Canisius College, who was presented with the Buffalo Labor Council’s Courage Award. 

Stanger was recognized for his outspoken public support of CWA Local 1168-represented Health Care Workers employed at the Catholic Health System, who in 2016 were embroiled in a long fight to win a new contract.  

The co-recipient of the Council’s Courage Award – Sister Judith Justinger of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph, was not in attendance. 

Both Sister Justinger and Stanger both sat on the Workers’ Right Board, which stood up for the CWA/Catholic Workers seeking a better contract and working conditions.

WNYLaborToday.com Editor’s Note: All photos that appear with this Labor News Report are courtesy of William Mayer - an International Union of Allied Trades (IUPAT) District Council 4 Delegate to the Buffalo Labor Council, who also serves as the Buffalo AFL-CIO Labor Council’s Community Services Chair and as its Social Media Director.