Nearly 500 union members, activists, and politicians turned out for NoVA Labor’s Tribute To Labor awards dinner last Friday night. Keynote speaker C. Ray Davenport, Commissioner, Virginia Department of Labor and Industry – and former Virginia AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer -- decried the absence of staff to monitor workplace safety, resulting in the deaths of workers of all ages. “We will not accept this,” Davenport said, “the work of labor goes on.” Click below to read more and see another photo.
Elevator Constructors union president Frank Christensen, accepting NoVA Labor’s Leadership Award, said that “What matters are those things that change life for the better for working people.” Other award-winners included IBEW 26 president Chuck Graham and Northern Virginia members of AFGE, for providing the most volunteers for precinct walks and phone banking respectively. NoVA Labor also saluted Russ Davis and his wife Russ (AFGE 476),Barry Weinstein (AFT 2401) and Eric Stewart (IBEW 1737) for their individual contributions of time and effort. "This was a wonderful night of fellowship and friendship for all of our hard workers," said NoVA Labor President Dan Duncan.
- report/photos by Kathleen McKirchy; photos (top): AFGE volunteers with NoVA president Dan Duncan; (bottom) IBEW president Ed Hill, IBEW 26 president Chuck Graham and Dan Duncan.
- report/photos by Kathleen McKirchy; photos (top): AFGE volunteers with NoVA president Dan Duncan; (bottom) IBEW president Ed Hill, IBEW 26 president Chuck Graham and Dan Duncan.