WNYLaborToday.com Editor’s Note: For the second straight year, Organized Labor in Niagara County has gotten the United Way of Greater Niagara’s annual fundraising campaign off to a rousing start.  With the United Way setting a goal of raising $1 million, the Labor Movement made check presentations totaling $49,000 at this morning’s (Friday, September 22nd) breakfast campaign kickoff in Niagara Falls.  Two days earlier at the Niagara-Orleans AFL-CIO’s Central Labor Council’s monthly meeting, Unionists gathered to recognize their accomplishments, as well as congratulate one of their own - United Steelworkers (USW) Local 9434’s Scott Jones, who received the AFL-CIO’s Russell Quarantello Community Service Award at the breakfast.  Pictured above, Executive Board and Affiliated Union Members of the Niagara-Orleans Labor Council pose with a ceremonial $24,000 check from this year’s proceeds from its 2023 Annual Labor’s Night At The Races Event.  (WNYLaborToday.com Photos)

(NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK) – The Niagara-Orleans AFL-CIO Central Labor Council and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 237 helped get the United Way of Greater Niagara’s annual million-dollar fundraising drive off to a rousing start today (Friday, September 22nd) with a combined $49,000 donation that will help fund a variety of efforts to help Workers, families and children who need assistance across Niagara County in the months to come.

The donations - as well as United Steelworkers (USW) Local 9434’s Scott Jones being honored with the AFL-CIO’s Russell Quarantello Community Service Award, were made at the United Way of Greater Niagara’s Kickoff Campaign Breakfast that was held at the Niagara Riverside Resort in Niagara Falls.

For the second straight year, it was Organized Labor that made the big splash which it came to officially launching the annual United Way drive. 

Last year, Labor’s Night at the Races and the IBEW Local 237/National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) combined to donate $42,400 - but surpassed that total this year (For More, Go To: Organized Labor ‘Kicks Off’ The United Way Of Greater Niagara’s 2022 Fundraising Campaign With A $42,400 Donation - Niagara-Orleans Labor Council, Labor Leader Denise Abbott & The USW’s Melissa Mazzarella Honored With Awards At The Event - WNY Labor Today: Your On-Line Labor Newspaper, Bringing You Labor News From Across The Nation, New York State & Western New York).

“I’d ‘like to say I’m surprised, but I’m not,’” Niagara-Orleans AFL-CIO Central Labor Council President Jim Briggs told WNYLaborToday.com a couple of days earlier during the Council’s monthly meeting.  “I ‘know where Labor’s heart is.’  ‘There are so many people out there who don’t know what we do for our community, but we do it because it’s the right thing to do to help those in our community who need it.’  ‘And this is what happens when local Workers are employed on local projects.’  ‘No money from out-of-town Workers who are brought in to work here ever stays in Niagara County.’  ‘Overall, Organized Labor accounts for as much at (40% to 50%) of what the United Way raises each year.’  ‘People need to understand that.’”

Denise Abbott, President of the Buffalo AFL-CIO Central Labor Council (who also serves as Health and Safety Director for Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 1168) is Secretary of the Niagara-Orleans Labor Council. 

For the last three years Abbott has served as Labor Chair of the United Way of Greater Niagara’s Fundraising Drive.

Abbott told WNYLaborToday.com: “‘It makes me so proud because it shows how Organized Labor cares about our community.’  ‘This will help make the lives of so many (across Niagara County) easier.’  ‘I get goosebumps.’  ‘It’s incredible.’  It’s not like putting a dollar in a pot - we know where this money goes - into our community.’”

The two check presentations were made by Organized Labor - one by the Niagara-Orleans Labor Council for $24,000 that came from its annual Labor’s Night at the Races (held at Ransomville Speedway that has raised a total of $207,000 over 14 years to benefit the United Way), and another $25,000 through a donation made by IBEW Local 237 and the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), made up of six cents for every hour worked by IBEW Members in Niagara County which was set aside to benefit the United Way.

“IBEW Local (237) ‘is the only Union (in Niagara County) that does this for the United Way,’” said Bill Jakobi, who serves as United Way Labor Liaison to the Niagara-Orleans Labor Council. “‘This is what Organized Labor does for the community.’  ‘It’s a story that goes - for the most part, untold.’  Organized Labor ‘does whatever it can to help people through tough times.’  ‘This is an amazing way to help kick off our campaign.’”

United Way of Greater Niagara Executive Director Andrea Gray told WNYLaborToday.com: “We ‘are very, very’ grateful.  The Labor Movement ‘plays such a big role’ (in raising annual donations for the United Way).  ‘They are such a powerful force that makes our community better.’”

IBEW Local 237 Business Manager John Scherrer (Pictured above, on the left, with Labor Council Secretary Abbott and United Way Labor Liaison Jakobi) told WNYLaborToday.com: “We negotiated ‘an increase of a penny (up from five cents to six cents per hour worked for each IBEW Local 237 Member with its Employer’s Group, NECA).  'We are proud to support the United Way.’  ‘We like to do this in negotiations (on a new contract with NECA Contractors) because it’s a way to help our community and a way to have our Union viewed positively.’  ‘In the end, we are doing the right thing.’”

On another front, USW Local 9434’s Scott Jones (Pictured Below With Labor Council President Briggs (on the left), Secretary Abbott and United Way Labor Liaison Jakobi - on the far right) was honored at the kickoff breakfast with the AFL-CIO’s Russell Quarantello Community Service Award.

“‘Whatever the issue is, Scott is there,’” Niagara-Orleans Labor Council President Briggs - who also serves as USW District 4 Sub-District Director, said of Jones. “He’s ‘an advocate on a marathon, no matter what he’s involved in.’  ‘In fact, he’s continued to stay involved, even after retiring - and as a grandfather, because he wants to give continue to give back.’”

The Labor Council’s Abbott said: “‘I’m so proud of what he’s done.’  ‘He’s extremely deserving’ of this award.  ‘He always has a smile on his face, he’s always there to help, to be a part of what we do.’  ‘We are truly lucky to have him.’”

United Way/Labor Council Labor Liaison Jakobi added: “‘You can always count on Scott.’  ‘He’s our go-to guy and he gets things done.’  ‘He’s always believed in the United Way, from participating in our annual Day of Caring event to selling newspapers to benefit the United Way.’  ‘He’s always gets involved and he will be a hard person to replace.’”

Jones, who retired in 2017, was a 30-plus-year Member of USW Local 9434, working for the City of Niagara Falls, including its Water Board and Planning Department. 

Over the course of time, he has served as a Trustee and Union Steward with the USW.

For the past 10 years, Jones has heavily involved himself in the Niagara-Orleans Labor Council, primarily in its Political Action efforts.

Jones was friends with the late Quarantello, who was the Business Manager for IBEW Local 237.

Quarantello was legendary in the Niagara Falls Community for involving himself, his Union and its Membership in a variety of amazing efforts - including the United Way, which were all aimed at making life better for Niagara County residents.

“I knew Russ Quarantello ‘very well.’  Russ ‘was involved in so many things’ in the Niagara County Community.  So, when I learned of being given the award - I said, ‘I’m not worthy,” Jones told WNYLaborToday.com. 

“‘Some of my passion (for being involved and giving back) comes from the knowledge I gained from Russ.’  ‘I want to thank Russ’s Family and let them know how I appreciated the work Russ did’.  ‘He taught me so much.’  ‘I humbly hope I have continued his legacy.’  ‘That’s all,’” Jones said.