WNYLaborToday.com Editor’s Note: The Western New York AFL-CIO Area Labor Federation (WNYALF) held its 2023 Annual Meeting at United Auto Workers Region 9 Headquarters in the Buffalo Suburb of Williamsville over the weekend in a well-attended event that drew Labor Representatives from across the eight-county area.  Those in attendance intently listened to WNYALF President Peter DeJesus, Jr. and Keynote Speaker - United Steelworkers District 4 Assistant to the Director David Wasiura, who both addressed Labor’s Fight Against a Racist Economy.  (WNYLaborToday.com Photos)

(WILLIAMSVILLE, NEW YORK) - Labor Representatives from across the Public and Private Sectors and the Building Trades were in attendance over the weekend as the Western New York AFL-CIO Area Labor Federation (WNYALF) held its 2023 Annual Meeting at United Auto Workers Region 9 Headquarters in the Buffalo Suburb of Williamsville.

And while much was addressed regarding the Labor Movement - not only here, but across New York State and the U.S., the overall theme of the meeting: Racial Justice IS Economic Justice: Labor’s Fight Against A Racist Economy, silenced at times those sitting in their seats as they contemplated the words and message delivered by both Keynote Speaker - David Wasiura, Assistant to the Director at United Steelworkers (USW) District 4, and WNYALF President Peter DeJesus, Jr.

Wasiura - who is White, called for the Labor Movement in Western New York to “unite and fight division.”

He talked about growing up in a predominately White Riverside Neighborhood of Buffalo during the 1980s and 1990s and said his exposure to working with Minorities began to open his eyes to life’s uneven playing field based on the color of one’s skin.

“I was asked, ‘Dave - ‘you don’t know what it’s like,’” Wasiura (pictured below) recounted, relating a conversation he had in the past with a Black Worker while working in a Buffalo plant.  “(I was asked) ‘How do you explain to your child that they can’t wear a (pulled up) hoodie while they walking down a street?’   ‘You could see the pain in my friend’s eyes.’”

Partly because of that memory, Wasiura has volunteered to sit on the New York State AFL-CIO State Labor Federation’s Social Justice Task Force. 

Asked by State Labor Federation Mario Cilento why he wanted to get involved, Wasiura said he replied: “Because ‘I don’t know shit’ (about what People of Color face on a daily basis).  ‘This is a learning’ experience.  ‘I want us (within the Labor Movement) to learn about each other.’  ‘I want to be a voice.’  ‘We are not born with hate in our heads.’  ‘Let’s get back to community and let’s learn from each other’ - White, Black, Brown, Asian, Hispanic.  ‘It starts in this room, today.’  ‘Let’s join together and speak together, for those who do not have a voice.’”

Meanwhile, WNYALF President DeJesus - who heads the Western New York Labor Umbrella Organization that oversees five area Central Labor Councils whose 140 Affiliated Member Unions combine to represent more than 145,000 Workers, is the WNYALF’s first President of Color, being of Puerto Rican and African-American Heritage.

DeJesus (pictured above) took time to reflect on all that has happened over the past 12 months in Western New York, most notably the killing of 10 African Americans by a racist shooter at an East Side Tops Supermarket in May 2022.  Three others were injured before the White shooter was talked into surrendering by Buffalo Police.  Reports said the young man live-streamed the slaughter on the Internet and left behind a 180-page manifesto that spewed hatred for Jewish and Black people.

“The ‘bedrock’ of the Labor Movement ‘is that we are stronger - together,’” DeJesus told the Labor Representatives.  “‘We lift voices and must grow our movement.’  ‘We are one.’”

Then DeJesus turned to the indignities suffered by Black people, including being pulled over by law enforcement at times for no reason, having Non-People of Color make insensitive comments like: “You’re well-spoken,” and being targeted just because of the color of their skin, most notably those murdered and injured during the Tops shooting, including some who were Union Members.

Said DeJesus: “‘We need an anti-racist economy and not pit the Working Class against each other.’  ‘We cannot be neutral when it comes to racism in our country and our world.’  ‘We need to be taking action.’  ‘These are not easy conversations to have, but they have to be had.’  ‘This is our’ Labor Movement ‘and it is our legacy.’  ‘It will mean having discomfort addressing the old ways, but we all need to get on board or we will be left behind.’  The AFL-CIO has decided that racial justice ‘is a top priority and racial justice is essential for building Worker Power.’  ‘We have to prove (to Workers of Color) we care about them - on and off the job.’  ‘We have to do the work, to stick together - as Workers and as people.’  ‘We are here to do this work because change is coming and we are fully embracing it.’”

The Labor attendees were also provided with reports from each of the Labor Councils on what transpired over the past 12 months and what was on their agendas for the rest of 2023.

In addition, three pro-Labor Elected Officials: U.S. Congressman Brian Higgins; State Senator Tim Kennedy; and Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz (all pictured below and in that order from left to right), also addressed the Labor Reps in attendance, bringing them up to date on key issues important to Organizing Labor and thanking all for their continued support.

WNYLaborToday.com Editor’s Note: Some of the photos that appear with this Labor News Report are courtesy of International Union of Painters & Allied Trades District Council 4 Representative William Mayer and Civil Service Employees Association Local 815 Representative Steve Szymura via the Social Network Facebook.