WNYLaborToday.com Editor’s Note: Pictured above, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York President Jessica Cox (on the right) and Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 153’s Grievance Chairperson Lynn Brooks smile for the camera during a recent Highmark-sponsored Night Out At The Ballpark event in Buffalo. Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield is sponsoring the Buffalo Labor Day Parade Picnic for the 12 time in 2026 and is being praised by local Labor Leadership for its commitment to the Union Movement across the Western New York Region.  (WNYLaborToday.com Photo)

(BUFFALO, NEW YORK) – As Organized Labor geared up for its annual Buffalo Labor Day Parade, a number of Union Leaders and Representatives took part in a casual get-together sponsored by Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York at a Minor League Buffalo Bisons baseball game in Downtown Buffalo.

It was yet another Labor event sponsored by Union-represented Highmark, which has stepped up its presence in Western York through the work of a new Labor Senior Labor Affairs Consultant (Bill Jakobi) to enhance its continued commitment to the local Labor Movement.

Over the years, Highmark has stepped up to sponsor and underwrite a number of Labor events, from Buffalo’s massive Labor Day Picnic (for the 12th time in 2026, going back to 2014) which takes place after the Labor Day Parade in South Buffalo to Labor’s Night At The Races, an annual Niagara-Orleans AFL-CIO Central Labor Council fundraising event held at Ransomville Raceway in Niagara County that has worked to raise more than $250,000 over more than 15 years and funds a variety of community programs through the United Way of Greater Niagara, to a series of Labor Health Care Seminars aimed at educating Unions and their Leaders.

And in the middle of this most-recent get-together that was marked with an outfield barbeque featuring hot dogs, hamburgers and all the Summer sides was Highmark President Jessica Cox, who is quietly building on the many positive relationships she is developing with an array of Unions that not only benefits them, but their Memberships.

“We ‘are just continuing to stay strong to our (Labor) roots,’” Cox, who comes from a Union Family (Her Father was a Correctional Officer in Elmira, as well as two of her cousins) told WNYLaborToday.com while she watched the Bisons play ball out on the field.

“It’s a ‘continued commitment to our (Union-represented Workforce) and the broader Union Community, which is so vital.’ (Labor) ‘cares about (their Members) and that’s what we support them.’ ‘And it’s who we are to help them keep their Members healthy so they can continue to recognize the value of Working Union,’” she said.

Around 40% of Highmark’s overall business here in Western New York is Labor-driven and Highmark’s 500-plus Workforce is represented by Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 153.

Several Union Representatives from OPEIU Local 153 were at the Night Out At The Ballpark Event, including Local 153’s Grievance Chairperson, Lynn Brooks (Pictured Below With Cox/Highmark Photo), who told WNYLaborToday.com: “(Highmark does) ‘recognize the value of their Union as an employer.’ ‘There used to be a proverbial fence (between Highmark and OPEIU), but now we’re a family and Jess is on board’ (with that). ‘We are one and we are not separated in terms of (achieving) what is best for our Members’ (employed at Highmark).”

Western New York AFL-CIO Area Labor Federation (WNYALF) President Denise Abbott, who was unable to make the ballpark event, told WNYLaborToday.com this: “Our parade and picnic ‘is happening because of ‘(Highmark). Our Labor Day Parade and picnic ‘would look very different without their support.’ ‘In fact, it’s happening because of them’ - all the tents and the chairs, and the food and cooking. ‘It probably would not be happening without the (monetary) help of Highmark.’ (Their support) ‘is incredible and fantastic and I am humbled by it.’”

The Labor Day Parade lineup of dozens of participating Unions starts at 10 a.m. on Monday (September 7th) at the corner of Dorrance Avenue and McKinley Parkway in South Buffalo and kicks off at 12 p.m. with Grand Marshal Tony Vaccaro of Teamsters Local 264 leading the way.

Immediately afterward, the Highmark-sponsored picnic will take place in Cazenovia Park.

Abbott also spoke highly of Cox’s leadership at Highmark: “Jess ‘is not a bad person to get along with.’ ‘Nothing but good has come from her and the success Highmark is having is because of her leadership.’ ‘She’s one of us.’ ‘She’s down to earth and treats people right, with respect and dignity - and she’s very smart.’ ‘Yes, she’s fantastic.’”

A big smile breaks out on the face of Cox when talking about Highmark’s involvement with the Buffalo Labor Day Parade and marching along with her husband, Bill, as well as a number of Members of the Highmark Team (including Members of OPEU Local 153) in South Buffalo: “‘Just the vast number of people who are there with a passion for Labor.’ ‘It’s infectious.’ ‘And it’s way bigger than I initially thought.’”

“I’m sitting here tonight (at the ballpark event) ‘listening to Labor Leaders and their Representatives telling stories of their kids growing up’ (in Union Families). ‘We all have a common goal as we remember how we got here and now represent each other,’” she continued. “‘It reminds me of my own family and what it was like.’ ‘I’m extremely proud of my Father and my family being in a Union, which allowed them to take care of us and provide a good lifestyle.’ ‘What’s better than that?’”

WNYLaborToday.com Editor’s Note: For More On Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York And Its President, Jessica Cox, Go To: New Leadership At Union-Represented Highmark Western And Northeastern New York: President Jessica Cox’s ‘Appreciation’ Of Organized Labor Traced Back To Her Family’s Roots As Corrections Officers, Now ‘Aims To Build A Partnership With Local Unions’ - WNY Labor Today: Your On-Line Labor Newspaper, Bringing You Labor News From Across The Nation, New York State & Western New York

Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York Provided Photos.