(NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK) – Labor Unions are more than just organizations that represent Workers in their workplaces and act in their best interest when it’s time to negotiate a contract or stand up for them in a grievance situation.  Sometimes it means picking up the ball when management won’t and taking action to recognize the hard work of Employees who’ve toiled for more than three decades in their profession.

That’s exactly what International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 2104 will be doing tonight (Friday, May 17th) when it honors 37 Members who are retiring from the New York Power Authority (NYPA) in Lewiston - as each will be presented with an IBEW-logo emblazoned watch (Pictured Above/WNYLaborToday.com Photo) during a celebratory dinner that will be held at the Como Restaurant in Niagara Falls.

“We ‘used to partner with’ management on a retirement party, ‘but that stopped,’” IBEW Local 2104 President/Business Manager Lou Fazzolari tells WNYLaborToday.com.  “It was ‘always some decision’ that they said they ‘couldn’t spend the money’ and they used (New York) State as the reason, ‘even though they (underwrite) an awards breakfast.’  (For whatever reason) they’ve ‘separated’ themselves (from an event to recognize and celebrate their retired Workers).”

This evening, 37 Local 237 Members will be honored, 26 men and 11 women.  All have worked for 30 years or more at NYPA and each will receive a special watch with the Union’s logo on it, as well as a retirement lapel pin.

“They ‘dedicated their time to their jobs over the years’ and they’re all ‘good’ Union Members.  ‘They should be recognized at this time and it should be more than just giving up their keys to the front door and heading out that door.’  ‘That would be sad,’” Local 2104 Executive Board Chairman Trevor Ganshaw tells Your On-Line Labor Newspaper.

Local 2104 represents 208 Members who work at NYPA.  They are employed in a vast array of positions, including Clerical and Secretarial, as Operators, Mechanics, Electricians and Technicians, and in NYPA’s Building and Grounds Department.

NYPA is the Nation's largest State Public Power Organization, through the operation of its 16 Generating Facilities and more than 1,400 circuit-miles of transmission lines.  NYPA, which uses no tax money or State credit, finances its operations through the sale of bonds and revenues earned in large part through the sale of electricity.  Also, and according to information posted on its website, more than 70% of the electricity NYPA produces is clean renewable hydropower.

“This is about the ‘Union Family’ that we ‘continually talk about,’” Fazzolari said.  “It’s ‘about Brotherhood and Sisterhood.’  ‘You’re in an organization, working with your fellow Members - shoulder to shoulder.’  ‘They’ve given up time away from their family, their kids.’  ‘We’ve celebrated the good times with them and we’ve shared their sufferings.’  ‘We all have that connection.’”

Said Ganshaw: “They ‘spend more than with their fellow Union Members than with their families over the years.’  ‘You want to let them know that we care about them.’”

While the IBEW, across the United States, makes it a practice of recognizing their Members with varying service lapel pins - for five, 10, 15 and 25 years, as well as 25 years plus - what Local 2104 is doing tonight in Niagara Falls is different.

“There are a ‘few’ Locals ‘across the country that do this’ (a retirement celebration where watches are presented), but it’s ‘not common,’” Fazzolari said.