WNYLaborToday.com Editor’s Note: Pictured above, the Western New York AFL-CIO Area Labor Federation (WNYALF) held its 2023 Annual Awards Dinner last week inside the Downtown Buffalo Convention Center where hundreds of area Labor Leaders, Union Representatives, Elected Officials and Friends of Labor were in attendance.  The WNYALF recognized several in the Western New York Labor Community, who were given awards to mark their accomplishments.  Pictured above in the top left-hand corner: WNYALF President Peter DeJesus, Jr.; Below DeJesus: Former WNYALF President Richard Lipsitz, who received the WNYALF’s Lifetime Achievement Award; and to his right, Statewide Public Employees Federation Wayne Spence, who delivered keynote remarks.  (WNYLaborToday.com Photos)

(BUFFALO, NEW YORK) – The Western New York AFL-CIO Area Labor Federation’s (WNYALF) 2023 Annual Awards Dinner delivered a glorious night to celebrate Unions and their Members inside Downtown Buffalo’s Convention Center, as well as to recognize several area Unionists for their accomplishments.  But the evening carried a somber note, as the Union representing Employees at a Tops Supermarket on Buffalo’s East Side was honored for what it has done not only for its Members in the aftermath of the 5/14/22 racist shooting, but also for the African-American Community where the grocery store is located.

United Food & Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local One Union Representative Mark Manna accepted the WNYALF’s 2023 Flo Tripi Activists of the Year Award on behalf of the Union’s Membership employed at the Tops Supermarket: “I am accepting this ‘on their behalf because solidarity is color blind and the (Union) community has showed real’ solidarity.  ‘We won’t let racism win and we will not allow (the East Side) to become a food desert.’”

(WNYLaborToday.com Editor’s Note: For More Information, Go To: A Conversation With United Food & Commercial Workers Local One President Frank DeRiso On The May 14th Racist Shootings At A Tops Supermarket In Buffalo: “‘It Makes You Sick.’ ‘I Cannot Fathom That People Can Be So Hateful.’” At https://www.wnylabortoday.com/news/2022/05/25/buffalo-and-western-new-york-labor-news/a-conversation-with-united-food-commercial-workers-local-one-president-frank-deriso-on-the-may-14th-racist-shootings-at-a-tops-supermarket-in-buffalo-it-makes-you-sick.-i-cannot-fathom-that-people-can-be-so-hateful./)   

The New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) Union was a co-awardee of the Flo Tripi Award that’s named after the late and legendary - and fiery Western New York Leader of the Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA).  NYSUT Western Region Director Joe Cantafio accepted the award, saying: “(NYSUT) had three former Members (who were negatively impacted by the shooting).  ‘I wish I wasn’t up here’ (to accept such an award).  It was a ‘horrible’ tragedy ‘and the way we will win is through love and solidarity.’”

WNYALF President Peter DeJesus, Jr. (pictured below) welcomed the crowd that packed themselves into one of the convention’s ballrooms, telling Unionists: “From (helping others during) the (5/14) racist shooting to CWA and SEIU’s new contract at Kaleida contract - with ‘no’ concessions, (Labor) ‘makes it happen’ - and we are ‘connecting to our communities’ – ‘and, we have created unprecedented Worker Power.’  We are ‘fighting systemic racism’ in Western New York (and working toward) ‘more inclusiveness to make our community better.’  ‘We are building better bridges for us and those who come after us.’  ‘We are involved in Labor’s newest battles and damn proud of where we will be in the future.’  ‘And when it comes to Women and Workers of Color, (the Labor Movement) does not hesitate to enhance what comes next.’”

(WNYLaborToday.com Editor’s Note: For More Information, Go To: CWA & 1199 SEIU Members Ratify ‘Historic’ Three-Year Contract With Kaleida Health - ‘Major Strides Made To Address Staffing Crisis, Including Adding 500 New Positions & A Minimum & Overall 12% Wage Increase’ At https://www.wnylabortoday.com/news/2022/10/13/buffalo-and-western-new-york-labor-news/breaking-labor-news-cwa-1199-seiu-members-ratify-historic-three-year-contract-with-kaleida-health-major-strides-made-to-address-staffing-crisis-including-adding-500-new-positions-a-minimum-overall-12-wage-increase/)    

Then the WNYALF made presentations to several Unionists, including:

Ina Ferguson (pictured below with DeJesus) of 1199 Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Healthcare Workers East who was honored with the WNYALF’s Community Activist of the Year Award.

Former WNYALF President Richard Lipsitz, Jr. (pictured below with DeJesus) of the Teamsters, was honored with the WNYALF’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

Lipsitz delivered remarks that looked back on 50 years of working in the Western New York Labor Movement: “I’ve tried to do my best serving the Working Class with a sense of honor, respect, comradeship, and a little humor.  I believe in the virtue of hard work, of charity and volunteerism but, the most important aspect of our work is collective action that serves the common good.  In this a scientific outlook is essential, we should strive to think before running our mouths.  Here the adage, “speak not what you know not of” actually works!  The Labor Movement most definitely plays a critical role in the solving of societal problems.  This should surprise none of us.  All the basic necessities of life are produced by the Working Class on an international scale.  It is the Working Class that applies its ‘Labor Power’ to the raw materials of the natural world in the creation of all we need to survive.  This is objective and factual.  Yet, those who labor are beset by all manner of injustices, not just the unequal distribution of wealth.  I wanted a career that has as its core mission the fight to eradicate such injustices.  For fifty years, I’ve tried to practice what I preach.  I haven’t always been successful and I’m sure I have made mistakes.  We all do - human beings are not perfect creatures.  Yet, here we are and here we will be - in a fight to maintain and expand that which benefits the overwhelming majority of humanity.  Let me conclude by saying the obvious: I had one exciting and gratifying experience after another, and yes, I had fun doing so.  For this I am eternally grateful for the opportunity.  However, the most important thing for all of us who have chosen this life is to remember its essence.  The core objectives of the work.  We must strive to always do the best we can to improve the lives of those who work and produce all that is needed for the future of the human race.  Never forget that no matter how difficult things may seem, we represent the overwhelming majority of the population of this planet.  Let us unite to make the best use of the time we have to make a real difference.”

Statewide Public Employees Federation (PEF) President Wayne Spence (pictured below) – who ended the event by serving as the dinner’s keynote speaker, took time to honor the Western New York Labor Movement by telling those who were in the room: “You lead to win.”

“(When PEF fought to keep the Buffalo Childrens’ Psychiatric Center open several years and fought the then administration of Governor Andrew Cuomo, successfully stopping the move) At the end of the day, ‘we won!’  ‘That is what you are in the Western New York Labor Movement.’  ‘This is how you showed up as a Labor Movement.’  ‘Unions here have stood with PEF (in the past) to make (things) happen – by the muscle and might of Labor.’  Western New York - ‘you lead to win!,’” Spence said.