Roberts, Nelson and Brown wow convention

EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the second in a series of stories on the recent Kentucky State AFL-CIO convention. Click here to see photos from the convention on the state AFL-CIO Facebook page. Copies of all the photos are available by email at bcraig8960@gmail.com.

By BERRY CRAIG

AFT Local 1360

Nobody can fire up a union crowd like Cecil Roberts, president of the United Mine Workers of America.

Based at UMWA headquarters in Triangle, Va., Roberts was the keynote speaker at the Kentucky State AFL-CIO’s recent 33rd biennial convention in Lexington.

But he had some tough competition at the podium from a pair of other out-of-towners: Sara Nelson, international president of the Association of Flight Attendants-Communications Workers of America, and Sen. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio. Since he's been in the Senate, Brown has voted the union position on legislation 99 percent of the time, according to the AFL-CIO's online Legislative Scorecard. 

Roberts, Nelson and Brown brought down the house. Roberts, as he has done in other convention appearances, grabbed the cordless mike and meandered among the delegates seated a tables in the convention hall.   

The speaker’s lineup also included one of labor's best friends in Frankfort, House Minority Leader Rocky Adkins, D-Sandy Hook, and the whole state AFL-CIO-endorsed Democratic ticket for the Nov. 5 election: Andy Beshear, governor; Jacqueline Coleman, lieutenant governor; Greg Stumbo, attorney general; Heather French Henry, secretary of state; Sheri Donahue, auditor, Michael Bowman, treasurer; and Robert Haley Conway, commissioner of agriculture.

In addition, Michael O. Caperton took his turn at the microphone. Also labor-endorsed, Caperton is running for reelection to the Court of Appeals. His race is non-partisan.

Rounding out the parade of speakers were other national, state and local labor leaders, politicians and others from organizations with union connections. The convention met on Monday and Tuesday at the Embassy Suites on Newtown Pike, the location of the 2017 convention.

In other business, the delegates reelected a trio of incumbent officers: President Bill Londrigan, Secretary-Treasurer Jeff Wiggins and Recording Secretary Edna Ford. Ashley Snider was elected vice president to succeed Ken Koch, who retired. Koch was honored for his many years in office. Delegates also elected a new Executive Board. Officers and E-board members serve four-year terms.

Five awards are presented at the state conventions. This year's honorees were:

The late Joe Phelps, Charles T. Clark Community Service Award (Bob Bracy accepted the award on behalf of Phelps' widow.)

Hayden Hunt, Kentucky State AFL-CIO Youth Labor Award

Cylister Williams, Leonard "Scotty" Smith Award

John Coomes, Lewis Hicks Lifetime Achievement Award

Edna Ford, Rosie the Riveter Award