WNYLaborToday.com Editor’s Note: Pictured above, the three recipients of this year’s Harry S. Jordan Scholarships appear with some of the Members of the Niagara-Orleans AFL-CIO Central Labor Council after receiving their awards during a recently held ceremony at International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 463’s former offices in the Niagara County Town of Ransomville.  It was the 39th time the Council has made such scholarship awards, which were increased from $500 to $1,000 this year with the help of two Friends of Labor - the Lewis & Lewis Law Firm and the National Income Life Insurance Company.    (WNYLaborToday.com Photos)

(RANSOMVILLE, NEW YORK) – Niagara-Orleans AFL-CIO Central Labor Council President Jim Briggs had a big smile on his face as each of the Council’s three Harry S. Jordan Scholarship winners read their winning essays about the Labor Movement.

“‘When I look back and I see some of the young adults we’ve given scholarships to and where they are now, I know (the Labor Council) made the right decision and that we helped the right people,’’” Briggs told WNYLaborToday.com

Brielle Lum, Brady Harrington and Kierson Skobjak each received a $1,000 scholarship check, an increase of $500 from last year’s scholarship amount, which Briggs said was made possible by two Friends of the Labor Council: The Lewis & Lewis Law Firm and the National Income Life Insurance Company (NILICO).

The Labor Council annually awards its Harry S. Jordan Scholarships to chosen area graduating high school students whose parents are Union Members.  

Said Briggs: “It was ‘nice to hear (what the award winners spoke to in their essays) because of their Mothers, Fathers or Grandparents - who worked a Union job, who were able to provide for their families and pay for things like nice vacations and for them to play sports.’  ‘It proves the Labor Movement is not just sitting at tables, negotiating contracts.’  That Labor ‘is standing up for the communities where its Members live and for those who are less fortunate.’  ‘And it’s nice that these young people understand what we do and how it has improved their lives.’  ‘And - we will continue to do so, helping those in our community, no matter if they are Union or they are not.’  (Labor) ‘treats everyone equally.’”

United Way of Greater Niagara Labor Liaison Bill Jakobi also spoke before the scholarships were handed out, saying: “The Labor Movement ‘truly does believe in helping today’s youth with giving them an opportunity for a better future.’  ‘We are always working to create a path of prosperity for the next generation.’  Education ‘is very important for our kids today.’  ‘It’s very difficult to find a good paying job without a college education and even then you’re not guaranteed a decent job.’  ‘Our investment in education is the future of our great country, to provide the skills to keep America the number one place in the world to live in.’  ‘We hope someday all of our scholarship winners will become leaders, doing something great for the company they work for or for the community they live and work in.’  On behalf of the Niagara-Orleans Labor Council ‘we would like to wish all our scholarship winners the best of luck with your future endeavors.’  ‘We hope this ($1,000) scholarship will help open the doors to a successful career in whatever you choose to do.’  ‘Your future is now in your hands.’”

This year the winners were:

The Labor Council’s Scholarship: Lum (Pictured below in the middle, with Labor Council President Briggs on the left and United Way of Greater Niagara Labor Liaison Jakobi on the right) is graduating from Niagara Wheatfield High School and was sponsored by United Steelworkers (USW) Local 9434.  Lum will be attending Buffalo State University in the Fall in her quest to obtain a degree in Childhood Education.  Her essay was on Why Do You Think Unions Are Relevant?

The Labor Council’s President Scholarship went to Harrington (Pictured below with Labor Council President Briggs on the left and United Way of Greater Niagara Labor Liaison Jakobi on the right), who was sponsored by United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 686.  Harrington is heading to the State University of New York’s Alfred State College.  His essay was also on Why Do You Think Unions Are Relevant?

And the Labor Council’s Russell Quarantello Apprenticeship Scholarship, named after the late International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 237 Business Manager, was given to Skobjak (Pictured below, shaking hands with Labor Council President Briggs and with United Way of Greater Niagara Labor Liaison Jakobi on the right), who plans to attend Orleans/Niagara BOCES where he will be enrolled in the HVAC Program.  Skobjak was sponsored by the Wilson Teachers Association.  His essay was on: Describe Your View Of An Ideal Political Leader.

The Niagara-Orleans Labor Council’s scholarships are named after 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 Niagara-Orleans Labor Council 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 Labor Council bio, it was said about Jordan: "(His) 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."