WNYLaborToday.com Editor’s Note: Pictured above, past Western New York AFL-CIO Area Labor Federation (WNYALF) President Richard Lipsitz and current WNYALF President Denise Abbott helped celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Labor Federation over the weekend. The WNYALF oversees 145 local Union Affiliates - including Public and Private Sectors and the Building Trades, that combined represent more than 140,000 Union Members and Retirees across a six-County Region of Western New York.   (WNYLaborToday.com Photos)

(BUFFALO, NEW YORK) – Unionists from across the Public and Private Sectors and the Building Trades gathered over the weekend to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Western New York AFL-CIO Area Labor Federation (WNYALF), giving a tip of the hat to how far it has come while vowing to continue “to build for those to come.”

“Where does time go?,” WNYALF President Denise Abbott, the first Woman to head the Area Labor Federation in its history, said to those in attendance at the Suburban Buffalo River Grove where all gathered on Saturday (August 1st). “As ‘different as we are, we are a united’ movement. ‘We do justice for those who came before us - and we are building for those to come.’ This Federation ‘is stronger because you are in this.’”

Union-represented Health Care Workers, Painters, Teachers, Civil Servants, Stagehands and University Staff were just some of the Unionists at the event. A number of Elected Officials, Political Candidates and Friends of Labor also attended the celebration that featured a Summer menu of Working People fare and sudsy beverages as they chatted at tables and shared stories of the WNYALF’s history and the gains made by the Labor Federation over the years.

The WNYALF was established in July 2002 by the National AFL-CIO and chartered to provide centralized authority and a leadership core for Organized Labor across six Western New York Counites that now includes 145 local Affiliates combining to represent more than 140,000 Union Members and Retirees.

The WNYALF was formed to oversee and uphold the work of the existing Central Labor Councils in Buffalo and Erie County, Niagara and Orleans Counties, Dunkirk and Northern Chautauqua County, Jamestown and Southern Chautauqua County, as well as Cattaraugus and Allegany Counties.

The purpose of the WNYALF was and is to coordinate the economic, social, political and cultural programs of its Affiliates, based on the principles of consensus building and respect for the independence and non-interference in the internal affairs of those Affiliates.

The first task of the founding conference of the WNYALF was to establish a structure to coordinate ongoing National, Statewide and Regional Campaigns, such as Strike support, Corporate Campaigns against Employers, Political/Legislative Activities, Social and Community Alliance Programs and Cultural work that advances the living standards and working conditions of the Working Class.

There have been five WNYALF Presidents who have served over the course of the past 25 years: Now-retired International Union of Painters & Allied Trades (IUPAT) District Council 4 Business Manager Dan Boody was the first; followed by Angelo Vellake, past Buffalo Area Director of the United Food & Commercial Workers (UFCW); who was succeeded by the Teamsters’ Richard Lipsitz (who served 10 years as WNYALF President); Peter DeJesus of 1199 SEIU (Service Employees International Union); and Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 1168’s Abbott.

“‘We make the voices of Working Families heard.’ ‘We are here to help secure economic equity.’ ‘We are here to organize the unorganized and fight for public policy in an agenda for all, as well as for Social and Economic Justice.’ ‘I cannot thank (the past WNYALF Presidents) enough for what they have done and for what we have built.’ ‘It is such an honor (to serve),’” Abbott said.

Lipsitz also addressed those in attendance, speaking about the many “struggles” that now face the Labor Movement across the Nation, as well as here in Western New York - and pointing to the upcoming and all-important Mid-Term Elections in November.

“Our ‘struggle (now) is to stop the assault on Democracy itself,’” he said. “We are ‘balancing on the edge of a knife because of the current Administration in Washington (D.C.).’ ‘We must unite to stop this list that goes on and on - we must and we can against this madman’ (Republican President Donald Trump). Our Labor Movement ‘is poised to play a pivotal’ role.”

Buffalo AFL-CIO Central Labor Council President Grace Bogdanove (Pictured Above/Photo Courtesy Of IUPAT DC4 Member William Mayer) of 1199 SEIU (the second Woman - Abbott was the first, to head the Buffalo Labor Council) told those in attendance: “The ‘challenges we face are the greatest we have ever seen.’ The ultra-rich ‘continue to profit off the backs of Working People and we are playing defense to keep what we have.’ ‘It will take sacrifice, but we need this Labor Movement now more than ever before to build power in all our Sectors and with those who support a vision of a better world.’ ‘We have the power to shut everything down in order to protect our Democracy.’ ‘So, let’s stop leaving it on the table and embrace our work ahead.’”

Also addressing the gathering was United Auto Workers (UAW) Region 9 International Representative Lonnie Everett, who said: “This is a ‘defining moment’ for the Labor Movement, which has brought about the eight-hour workday and safety on the job. ‘We are not the problem.’ Wages ‘are not’ the problem. ‘Corporate greed is’ the problem. ‘Everyone deserves a living wage and to retire with dignity.’ The rich ‘are trying to divide us, but we must organize the unorganized, hold our politicians accountable and refuse to accept crumbs from the table.’ ‘This is our moment and our time to lead.’ ‘We’re fighting to make people better around the world.’”