WNYLaborToday.com Editor’s Note: The Niagara-Orleans AFL-CIO Central Labor Council (NOLC) honored its annual Harry S. Jordan Scholarship Award Winners last week during the NOLC’s monthly meeting in Niagara Falls.  From left to right: Sponsored by NWSRP Union Local 03-116/4586, Niagara Wheatfield High School’s Emma Halleen, who plans on attending Clemson University; Lewiston Porter High School’s Nicolette Mazzarella - who received the Labor Council’s President’s Scholarship Award.  Sponsored by United Steelworkers (USW) Local 4-0277, Mazzarella is taking a Certificate Class for Human Resources; and StarPoint High School’s Colby Siegmann, the first-ever recipient of the NOLC’s Russell Quarantello Apprentice Scholarship.  Sponsored by International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 237, Siegmann has been accepted into the Carpenters Union Apprentice Program.  Pictured in the back row, from left to right, are the NOLC’s Executive Board: Jim Briggs; Anna Horton; Mark Hewitt; Sean Nevins; Jeff Soos; Trevor Ganshaw; Mark McDonald; and Fran Flannigan.  (Photo Courtesy of United Way of Greater Niagara Labor Liaison Bill Jakobi)

(NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK) – Niagara-Orleans AFL-CIO Labor Council (NOLC) President Jim Briggs thought it would be appropriate to invite several United Steelworkers (USW)-represented Workers from Unifrax in Tonawanda who currently are on Strike to attend last week’s monthly Labor Council meeting where three local young people received scholarships after submitting winning essays on the Labor Movement.

In the end it meshed well with the messages penned by the Harry S. Jordan Scholarship Award Winners, who got the chance to listen and learn from real Workers who’ve benefitted by being represented by a Union - which correlated nicely with the thoughts those young people had put down on paper.

“I ‘wanted them to know what Corporate America is about and what Organized Labor is,’” Briggs, who also serves as USW District 4 Sub-Director, told WNYLaborToday.com after the event.  “Not only do we have USW Members striking at Unifrax, but also at ATI Technologies in Lockport.  Both strikes ‘are all about benefitting future and young’ Workers.  ‘The fight is for them and the statement being made is what Organized Labor is and who we are.”

“The event went well.  It certainly has been the decision of the Niagara-Orleans Labor Council ‘to help our young people who are continuing their education,’” he continued.  “They did an ‘excellent’ job on their essays ‘and they now fully understand what they sat down and wrote.’  ‘My hope is the school districts from where they’ve graduated realize they need to do their part to help create jobs that put our young people to work, especially on school construction.’”

Bill Jakobi, who serves as the United Way of Greater Niagara’s Labor Liaison to the NOLC, told Your On-Line Labor Newspaper: “Continuing one’s education is ‘very important because you can’t get a good-paying job without it.’  For the past (37) years, the Niagara-Orleans Labor Council has been providing scholarships to our young people (a total approaching nearly $200,000).  ‘It’s the Council’s hope that all do something good with their lives and in the future do good things that benefit the communities where they will work and live.’”

Each scholarship award winner received $500.

In part, here’s what each of the three wrote in their winning essays:

Niagara Wheatfield High School’s Emma Halleen, sponsored by NWSRP Union Local 03-116/4586, who plans on attending Clemson University: Our Labor Unions today fight for many of the same things they did when they were first formed.  Two of the most important things, in my opinion, is that Unions fight for wages and benefits.  It is well-documented that there is an ever-growing gap between the rich and the poor in this country.  I believe that without Labor Unions, the Middle Class soon would become extinct.  Without Unions, companies would pay Workers the bare minimum to ensure they increase their profits.  The role Unions play in our society has become clearly evident in the midst of the (Coronavirus) Pandemic we are in today.  Unions have Workers of any race, age or sex be protected during this stressful time.  They have ensured businesses provide better safety precautions, increased and protected pay, and allowed sick pay while out for COVID.  Many employers may have not offered Workers these benefits without the backing of a Union.

Lewiston Porter High School’s Nicolette Mazzarella - who received the Labor Council’s President’s Scholarship.  Sponsored by United Steelworkers (USW) Local 4-0277, Mazzarella is taking a Certificate Class for Human Resources: Looking at Unions from a more personal level, the relevance of Unions to myself - and many people who have family members who belong to them, have given us the means to live a more stable and happier life.  Growing up in a home with a single mother, I realized early how important Unions were.  From higher wages to exceptional health car and a good work/life balance.  It was apparent Unions were always focused on protecting their Members’ best interests.  Unions have also helped drive a positive impact while engaging our local communities.  Labor Unions, today and in the future, will continue to positively affect our workforce and the quality of life for Working Families.  Without Unions, could we possibly go back to the 70-plus-hour workweek and unlivable wages that our ancestors once had to deal with?  If there is no Union representation, could history repeat itself again?

StarPoint High School’s Colby Siegmann, the first-ever recipient of the Council’s Russell Quarantello Apprentice Scholarship.  Sponsored by International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 237, Siegmann has been accepted into the Carpenters Union Apprentice Program: Unions are relevant, especially in today’s world.  But I think to know the relevance of Unions today, you first need to know the history of Unions and the role they played.  Back in the 1930s, Andrew Carnegie and John Rockefeller realized the biggest expenses (they had running their businesses) were labor and safety requirements for Workers.  When they realized this, they began to cut Workers’ wages in half - and on top of that, they made them work 12 hours a day, seven days a week.  To stop this from happening, the Workers decided to go on Strike.  Many were fired for doing this and Carnegie and Rockefeller just hired new Workers.  But soon after, they joined the others on Strike in their factories.  Carnegie and Rockefeller realized they needed to negotiate with the Workers.  The Workers came up with a list of demands and requirements and their demands were met.  This was the creation of the first fully-functioning Labor Union.  This led to many people joining Unions because they were guaranteed rights like safe working conditions and reasonable pay.  Now, to answer if Unions are relevant?  I think they are very relevant, especially in government, because many of the Labor Laws and Safety Regulations originated in Unions. 

The NOLC’s scholarships are named in honor of Harry S. Jordan, who was born in England in 1894 and later immigrated to America.  After moving from Springfield, Illinois to Niagara Falls in 1914, he began to pursue his chosen Trade with the IBEW.  Jordan served as the first Business Agent for Local 237 in Niagara Falls, a position he held for 52 years.  Serving on the Local's Apprenticeship Board, Jordan was involved in establishing courses that maintained the highest standards of craftsmanship.  In 1958, then U.S. Secretary of Labor James Mitchell cited Jordan for his efforts. 

Jordan's achievements were many.  He served as President of the Niagara Falls Federation of Labor in 1919 and continued in that capacity until it merged with the NOLC in 1956.  Jordan served as its President until 1971.  He also served as President of the Niagara County Building & Construction Trades Council from 1933 to 1941, and as Trustee of the Niagara County Building Trades Council from 1941 until his retirement in 1971. 

Jordan's interest in helping the everyday Working Person extended far beyond Organized Labor into the field of public housing.  For his efforts, Jordan was affectionately known as the Father of Public Housing.  He served on the Niagara Falls Housing Authority for 30 years, including 14 as its Chairman.  In 1963, the Public Housing Administration cited Jordan for his efforts and dedication. 

On another front, Jordan was active in the American Red Cross, the Community Chest, served as a member of the Niagara Falls Urban Renewal Agency, as a Trustee on the Niagara Community College Campus in Sanborn, and also found time to serve as Chairman of the Educational Foundation at the local college.

In a bio that appears yearly in the scholarship dinner program, it is noted: "Jordan's long record of continuous service to Organized Labor stands as a tribute to the ordinary man.  Everyone who knew him benefited from knowing him, his hard work, positive influence upon his community, as well as, to the area's Unionized Construction Industry continue to this day."

The Russell Quarantello Apprentice Scholarship is named in honor of the late Russell Quarantello, a former Business Manager of IBEW Local 237 who passed away at the age of 59 in August 2019.  A pillar in both the Niagara County Labor Movement and the local community, Quarantello continually fought for Workers’ Rights, Union Jobs and involved himself and his Membership in a variety of worthwhile initiatives to make their Niagara County Community even better.

For more on Quarantello, Read: “He Gave More Than He Got” - Organized Labor ‘Saddened’ By The Passing Of Former & Long-Time IBEW Local 237 Labor Leader Russ Quarantello, Who’s Being Described As A “Pillar” Of The Niagara County Labor Movement At www.wnylabortoday.com/news/2019/08/12/buffalo-and-western-new-york-labor-news/he-gave-more-than-he-got-organized-labor-saddened-by-the-passing-of-former-long-time-ibew-local-237-labor-leader-russ-quarantello-who-s-being-described-as-a-pillar-of-the-niagara-county-labor-movement/