Retired Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 1122 President Jan Borman, long-time friend of retired United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 774 President John Kaczorowski - who served as President of the Buffalo AFL-CIO Council for nine years in the late 90s and into the 2000s, recently called to let me know that John had passed away.

As I listened to Jan, a flood of memories came rushing back.

John was a tall, skinny, cigarette-smoking, old-time Labor Leader who I got to know while running my Labor Public Relations Agency during the same time he oversaw the Buffalo Labor Council.

For those who do remember John, whom I would become good friends with over the years and that I wish now many more did - especially those who’ve taken positions with the Labor Movement since late 2000s, Kaczorowski was many things: He was involved - made no difference how big or small your Union was; He oversaw large Council meetings, working hard to knit together all across the Western New York Labor Movement, providing a place at the table for all when it came to Organized Labor; He walked everyone’s picket line, supporting a variety of Public and Private Sector Union Members, as well as those in the Building Trades; He was a straight-shooter and he told you what he thought, like it or not; And he was not, shall we say - politically correct, which ruffled many a Labor feather during the time he headed the largest Central Labor Council across all of Western New York.

But I personally recall one situation in particular, not too long after John took over the Council’s leadership from George Wessel - another Labor throwback who ran the Council for 27 years, when he made the decision to personally get involved with IATSE (International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees) Local 10’s fight against Metropolitan Entertainment, which at the time ran the Theme Park Darien Lake’s concert venue. 

My Labor PR Group was representing the Stagehands, who wanted to be paid fairly for the work they did, but were told by Keith Beccia, a Metropolitan heavy-weight, that they were “nothing but box pushers” and would be paid that way.

John had just taken over as Labor Council President when he made his decision - climbing into a van with a number of Stagehands Reps and traveling with them from Buffalo to New York City where he sat a table in the Manhattan offices of Metropolitan Entertainment - across from Beccia, who hurled his insult against them.

This strong show of support from a Buffalo Labor Council President, however, was not lost on Metropolitan Entertainment, which in the end lost an estimated $1 million because of high-profile picket lines, tons of negative publicity and the arrest of two Local 10 Stagehands who physically used their bodies to stop anyone from crossing their picket line.

Joe Abad was one of the two arrested and he remembers the situation well - as well as the friendship that grew between he and John over the years.

“It was ‘sad’ to hear of John (passing),” Abad told WNYLaborToday.com.  “He ‘definitely did a great job’ (helping the Local).  ‘He was red hot about Metropolitan.’  In the end we got a contract and developed it over the years (at Darien Lake) ‘where now it’s (100%) Union.’”

Asked what he remembers best about John, Abad said: “He was a ‘fighter.’  ‘He wouldn’t take no for an answer.’  ‘He never stopped and he didn’t wait for things to come to him.’  ‘I was also impressed with him.’  ‘And he kept in contact with me’ (over the years).  He ‘came to both my parents’ wakes.’  He was a ‘stand-up’ guy.  ‘Definitely, my life is better knowing’ John Kaczorowski.”

Several days later after speaking with Jan, she sent me this formal obituary that has run locally in the newspapers, which read:

John J. Kaczorowski, who was born of April 2nd, 1942 and passed on November 4th (2022), brought unity and strength to the Labor Movement locally during his nine years as President of the Buffalo Council AFL-CIO.

John died November 4 in Erie County Medical Center (ECMC) after a short illness.  He was 80.

He convinced large Union Locals - such as the Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) to join the Council and helped set up an alternative Health Care Plan for Union Members.

His duties took him to countless meetings, rallies, picket lines, press conferences, picnics and funerals.

He also led the Union Organization's political activities and acted as a peacemaker between rival Democrat factions.

His support helped bring President Bill Clinton to Buffalo for a rally in the KeyBank Center following his impeachment and he stood beside then-New York’s U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton in Buffalo’s annual Labor Day Parade.

After stepping down, he remained active as a political consultant to the Western New York AFL-CIO Area Labor Federation (WNYALF).

He met former Polish President Lech Walesa and many national, state and local political figures.

Born in Buffalo, he grew up on the City's East Side, attending St. Adelbert's School and School 9.

After graduating from Emerson High School, he took a job at the Harrison Radiator Plant on Clyde Avenue, where his Father, Joseph, and Brother, Ronald, worked, then transferred to the General Motors’ Tonawanda Engine Plant, where he was a Millwright.

He was active in United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 774 - one of the most successful UAW Units in the country, serving as a Benefits Representative for Employees at the Tonawanda Plant, and was elected President of the Local in 1993.

Working with management, he helped create hundreds of jobs.

When he ran for President of the Buffalo Council AFL-CIO in 1996, he received 82% of the vote at the Council's Delegate meeting.

He succeeded long-time president George Wessel as head of the group that represented about 100,000 Workers in 200 Union Locals.

"Over the years, (Mr.) Kaczorowski has developed a reputation as a soft-spoken leader capable of bringing people together for a common goal," then Buffalo News Business Reporter James T. Madore wrote prior to his election.

"You don't want to be militant," Kaczorowski told another interviewer at the time. "You need to sit at the desk and discuss the problem."

During his time as Labor Council President, he also served as Vice Chairman of the Erie County Industrial Development Agency (ECIDA), served for eight years on the ECMC Board of Managers and was Vice Chairman for Labor for the United Way of Buffalo and Erie County.

He also was a Board Member of Buffalo and Erie County Private Industry Council and a member of Niagara Frontier Industrial Education Council.

He was honored with a number of awards, including the 1996 Am-Pol Eagle Citizen of the Year Award for Labor and the Gene Mays Award in 1997 from the Western New York Council of the CWA.

Considered as a candidate for Cheektowaga Supervisor, he ran unsuccessfully against incumbent Assemblyman Dennis Gabryszak in 2008 in the Democratic Primary and with a Working Families endorsement in the General Election.

He also lost a bid for a seat on the Cheektowaga Town Board in 2009.

Services will be held at a later date.

Since then, WNYLaborToday.com reached out to several active and retired area Labor Leaders about John, his passing and legacy - here’s what they had to say:

Retired IUPAT (International Union of Painters and Allied Trades) District Council 4 Business Manager Dan Boody, who served as the first Western New York AFL-CIO Area Labor Federation (WNYALF) President: “He was ‘old school, but he made a difference.’  ‘He always looked to bring Labor together and get them out to support each other.’  I remember him ‘speaking at so many Labor fights and pickets.’  ‘He joined in everyone’s fight, it didn’t matter who it was.’  ‘He was everybody’s’ Labor Council President.  ‘Yes, sometimes he rubbed people the wrong way, but in the end - he was tough and he believe in the Labor Movement.’  ‘He fought for others.’  I’m ‘sorry’ to learn of his passing.”

Former WNYALF President Richard Lipsitz: “He was ‘helpful in a lot of struggles’ while he was President of the Buffalo Council.  ‘John was the kind of Labor Leader that if you got into a struggle, he was an ally.’  ‘He kept the Central Labor Council together and he had a strong influence in our economic and political life.’  ‘He will be missed.’”

Buffalo Teachers Federation President Phil Rumore: "(John) 'really cared.'  Working People - 'that's who he fought for.'  He was a 'true' Union Activist.  He was also a (Labor) advocate 'who listened to you.'  He would 'reach out and embrace' people and ask, 'What can I do to help?'"

John Scardino, former American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees Local President Local 264 President and President of AFSCME Council 35, who presently serves as an IATSE Representative: “I remember him taking over the Council, ‘a lot of people were against him.’  I ‘supported him’ when I was with AFSCME.  ‘He was always the kind of person who would help us, day or night.’  He was a ‘great, great leader’ - ‘a leader of Working Families, Blue Collar.’  ‘He kept everyone together, especially when there was fighting or disagreements between Unions.’  ‘And he brought people together.’  I remember him being a ‘big supporter’ of Hillary Clinton when she decided to run for the U.S. Senate in New York State.  John brought together a bunch of influential Labor Leaders for a big meeting with her.”

International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 17 Business Manager Tom Hopkins: “All the time he was President of the Buffalo Council, ‘I could ask him for his help and he was always there.’  ‘What he did to bring about unity with so many Labor Organizations was amazing.’  ‘But John knew that by doing that, we would all be stronger.’  ‘And he always listened to both sides and any time he asked for my help, we were there.’  ‘With John, it was always a two-way street.”’

For more on John Kaczorowski, WNYLaborToday.com researched and found two stories on John that appeared years ago in The Buffalo News, Headlined:

Kaczorowski Has Immense Task At AFL-CIO At https://buffalonews.com/news/kaczorowski-stepping-down-as-head-of-labor-group-buffalo-afl-cio-elects-mark-jones/article_5562e1df-4d5f-5582-8f9d-a8c3f31301e3.html And Kaczorowski Stepping Down As Head Of Buffalo AFL-CIO At https://buffalonews.com/news/kaczorowski-has-immense-task-at-afl-cio/article_3c8d71e1-bdf3-54eb-b0b3-e09b657ef099.html