WNYLaborToday.com Editor’s Note: Western New York AFL-CIO Area Labor Federation (WNYALF) President Emeritus Richard Lipsitz (on the left) and new WNYALF President Peter DeJesus take a moment to pose for a photo after the Labor Federation’s annual meeting that was held outside at Chestnut Ridge Park in Suburban Orchard Park on Saturday (June 12th).  For the first time in a very long time, due to the Coronavirus Pandemic, a variety of vaccinated Union Leaders and Representatives, Elected Officials and Friends of Labor gathered without their masks to honor Lipsitz and officially welcome DeJesus, who now heads a Regional Labor Federation that represents 145,000 Union-represented Workers.  (WNYLaborToday.com Photo)

(ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK) – It was a very different and very special annual Western New York AFL-CIO Area Labor Federation (WNYALF) meeting that was held under sunny skies and warm temperatures over the weekend inside and around a very large tent, just a stone’s throw away from its Workers’ Memorial in Orchard Park’s Chestnut Ridge Park.

With so many having been vaccinated against COVID-19, Union Leaders and Representatives, Elected Officials and Friends of Labor were all without masks – which might have also been a first amongst Union Labor, who’d been meeting via Zoom for more than a year now.

And, if it was any indication of where the Western New York Labor Movement is headed, it would appear that it indeed has a very bright future under the new leadership of President Peter DeJesus, a future built on a concrete foundation of accomplishments under the previous leadership of President Emeritus Richard Lipsitz - who was celebrated by speaker after speaker who shared their personal memories and doled out congratulations while Lipsitz was seated at a nearby table with his wife, Liz, and daughter, Cassie.

The WNYALF oversees 140 affiliated Local Unions that combine to represent 145,000 Workers in the Public and Private Sectors and the Building Trades.

WNYALF President DeJesus, New York State AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Terry Melvin, U.S. Congressman Brian Higgins, read letters from U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kristen Gillibrand, Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown, State Senator Tim Kennedy, Kenmore Teachers Association President Peter Stuhlmiller (who spoke on what Lipsitz did in assisting his Teachers’ Union in getting involved in the Western New York Labor Community), New York State Department of Labor Representative Chris Borgatti, New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) Regional Director Mike Deely, Teamsters Local 449 Principal Officer/Secretary-Treasurer George Harrigan, and Lipsitz’s daughter, combined to deliver a litany of congratulatory, emotional and passionate statements.

“We are here to ‘honor a Labor Leader who I am lucky to call friend.’  ‘We are here to celebrate his accomplishments while we look in another direction, passing the PRO (Protecting the Right to Organize) Act.’  (Lipsitz) will be there ‘to help guide us.’  As always, he will say: ‘Take a deep breath - we’ll be alright.’  ‘Thank You for taking action when needed and for creating spaces for people like myself,’” said the 42-year-old DeJesus (Pictured Above/WNYLaborToday.com Photo) - the first minority President of the ALF.

Following the new WNYALF President was the State Labor Fed’s Melvin (Pictured Above/WNYLaborToday.com Photo), a fiery orator whose voice rose to heights when speaking of the accomplishments Lipsitz had brought about over the years: “He ‘quietly brought people together and had their backs - to count on each other in order to count on one another.’  ‘He looked beyond the needs of his Union’ (the Teamsters).  ‘He came on the scene to bring peace, vision and a steady hand.’   ‘That united us and brought us together - White, Black, all.’  He was ‘a leader we all looked up to.’  ‘Now, you turn (the Western New York Labor Movement) over to someone younger and more diverse.’  ‘Why?’  ‘Because of your vision and leadership.’  ‘You have made a difference for all of us.’”

Congressman Higgins: “This is a ‘day of transition and new opportunity.’  (DeJesus) is the ‘fresh new face’ of the Western New York Labor Movement.  He is Black and Hispanic.  He is a father of six.  He worked on the manufacturing floor.  He negotiated wages for local Health Care Workers.  Richard Lipsitz ‘is a great friend and Labor Leader.’  ‘He is smart and articulate.’  ‘He is built of goodness and wisdom.’  ‘He is effective, thoughtful and reasonable’.  ‘He is a great advocate for’ Working Men and Women."

Mayor Brown: “Richard ‘is a leader is so many ways.’  ‘He is a visionary and he has developed the future of the Labor Movement.’  Peter ‘is an example of Richard working to bring people (of color) into the Labor Movement.’  Richard has served as the Vice Chair of the Erie County Industrial Development Agency ‘and he has fought to make sure Labor was represented.’  ‘A lot’ of the IDA’s policies and projects ‘are the result of Richard’s leadership.’  ‘And remember,’ the IDA position is a ‘volunteer’ position.  ‘He is respected across all sectors and he is one of those wise people who you go to for counsel and advice.’  ‘He also fought against bigotry and white supremacy.’  Married (44) years to his wife, Liz, with two daughters and two grandchildren, ‘he is a long-standing advocate of Labor, Civil and Social Justice issues.’”

Lipsitz’s daughter, Cassie, a Teacher, said: “As a kid, ‘I knew my Dad ‘worked to help people.  (I am thankful for) the ‘work ethic he instilled in me.’  He was a father ‘who taught a lot of lessons.’  ‘We didn’t sacrifice (not having him home at times) because we were all in this together.’  ‘We love you.’”

NYSUT’s Deely: “(Lipsitz) ‘would talk to everyone (each specific individual) before making a decision.’  ‘That’s organizing.’  ‘So the challenge to all of you is to take care of each other and talk to each other.’”

The Teamsters’ Harrigan, who held back tears, said: “I was ‘most fortunate to have gotten to work with (Lipsitz) for (25) years.’  ‘His character.’  ‘His integrity.’  ‘My Brother Teamster, I love him.’  ‘Without the foundation (of his family), Richard wouldn’t be Richard.’”

Lipsitz (Pictured Above/WNYLaborToday.com Photo) took to the podium, a bit overwhelmed by all the love he was receiving: “I’m ‘getting to hear nice things (about himself) while I’m still alive.’  The Labor Movement ‘has proved to be resilient’ and ‘we elected the most Pro-Worker President (Joe Biden) since the New Deal.’  And while (many Union Members voted for Republican President Donald Trump), ‘there is no place in our movement for racial discrimination and hatred.’  ‘With such an overall assault on Working People, we need the Labor Movement now more than ever.’  Now, Working People ‘want to be’ Unionized.  Looking back, (local Labor Leaders) ‘came to me to take on’ the ALF Presidency back in 2010.  ‘We built an organization on integrity and consensus.’  The ‘majority’ of the American population ‘believe collective bargaining is a right.’  ‘We worked to put money in the pockets of ordinary people, negotiated improvements in the lives of real people.’  The ALF (celebrated) ‘the honor of work and the right to earn a living, we sacrificed for the good of all and the Labor Movement gave back to those in great need’ - including the water donations we raised for the people of Flint, Michigan.  ‘Who does these things?’  ‘Labor does.’  ‘We solve problems for people all day long.’  ‘Who does that?’  ‘We are all looking for a way to make a life’ (for ourselves and our loved ones).  ‘I couldn’t have done that without’ the Teamsters.  ‘This makes me feel complete as a Labor Leader.’  Now, the new ALF Leadership ‘is off to a splendid start and I look forward to contributing’ (in the months and years to come).”   

WNYLaborToday.com Editor’s Note: The photo of WNYALF President Emeritus Lipsitz and his family was taken by International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) District Council 4 Representative William Mayer Via Facebook.   All other photos were taken by WNYLaborToday.com.

And For More On This Labor News Story, Read: New Leadership At The Western New York AFL-CIO Labor Federation: ‘Lunch Pail Guy,’ 1199 SEIU’s Peter DeJesus, Jr., To Head Regional Labor Organization Whose 140 Affiliates Combine To Represent 145,000 Public & Private Sector Workers At www.wnylabortoday.com/news/2021/03/15/buffalo-and-western-new-york-labor-news/new-leadership-at-the-western-new-york-afl-cio-labor-federation-lunch-pail-guy-1199-seiu-s-peter-dejesus-jr.-to-head-regional-labor-organization-whose-140-affiliates-combine-to-represent-145-000-public-private-sector-workers/