(BUFFALO, NEW YORK) – As a guest of U.S. Congressman Brian Higgins, Western New York AFL-CIO (WNYALF) President Peter DeJesus attended President Biden’s State of the Union Address in Washington, D.C. last week – which was believed to be the first time an area Labor Leader has ever been afforded that honor.

“I was ‘blown away,’” DeJesus tells WNYLaborToday.com.  “It was an ‘incredible honor to be there - a moment in a lifetime.’  As I was approaching the Capitol (on Tuesday, February 7th), ‘I was thinking about it and got goosebumps.’”

In WNYLaborToday.com’s recollection of the history of Western New York Labor, which dates back to the 1980s, there has never been a representative of the area Labor Movement that has received such a prestigious invitation and been in attendance at a State of the Union Address made by a President in Washington, D.C.

“As far as we (the WNYALF) can recall, ‘there has never been one,’” DeJesus (Pictured Above/WNYLaborToday.com File Photo) added.

“From hospitals and factories to classrooms and construction, Workers are the backbone of our economy and the state of our union is only as strong as our people.  I’m proud to welcome a champion for Working People, Peter DeJesus, as our State of the Union guest,” Congressman Higgins (New York-26th District) said in a released statement.

The WNYALF President said he received a call from Higgins’ Chief of Staff asking him if he “was doing anything on the night of the seventh.” 

“I told him I would love to go,” said DeJesus, who talked about how both the Western New York Labor Movement and Higgins “value” their relationship.

In March 2021, DeJesus was elected as the fourth President of the WNYALF, which represents 140 affiliated Unions that combine to represent 145,000 Workers in the Public and Private Sectors, as well as the Building Trades.

The umbrella Labor Organization oversees five Central Labor Councils across Western New York, including Buffalo; Niagara-Orleans; Dunkirk; Jamestown; and Cattaraugus/Allegany.

“I was there ‘representing our Member Unions and their Members and my predecessors,’ including (former WNYALF President) Richard Lipsitz, ‘because I don’t do this job on my own,’” DeJesus said.

DeJesus arrived late for Biden’s State of the Union address as his flight from Buffalo ran late and the process it took going through security run by Capitol Police before he finally took his seat in the Upper Gallery, behind the Democratic Caucus.

The WNYALF President was impressed with President Biden’s address, calling it “downright masterful” and getting Republicans - including many who disrespectfully shouted out from their seats at the President while he spoke, “to playing into his hands.”

“It was a ‘show of utter disrespect’ for the President,” DeJesus said.  “(Republicans) ‘wouldn’t even stand to applaud when the President mentioned the Middle Class.’  ‘We are not always going to agree on the issues, but there always has to be respect’ (shown by each side).  ‘We need to get back to community.’”

However, while the experience was one to remember for the WNYALF President, DeJesus first thoughts as he sat down to listen to Biden’s address were his memories of the January 6th insurrection. 

“‘Scenes of the past seemed to unfold: the beefed-up Capitol Police presence… The first time I had been there since that treasonous act… Everything that was taken away from us in these hallowed halls,’” he said. “But ‘in the end, it was an incredible honor to be there to represent the Western New York Labor Movement and our affiliates.’”

For More On WNYALF President DeJesus & The Western New York Labor Federation, 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 - WNY Labor Today: Your On-Line Labor Newspaper, Bringing You Labor News From Across The Nation, New York State & Western New York