The Kentucky State AFL-CIO's 34th Biennial Constitutional Convention wrapped up today with the presentation of six awards.
The awards and the recipients are:
-- Rosie the Riveter: Cheryl Husk, USW Local 9423.
-- Charles T. Clark Community Service Award: Jay Muerer Jr. (posthumous), IUPAT District Council 91.
-- Kentucky State AFL-CIO Youth Labor Award: Caleb Morgan, stepson of Chad Conley, Ashland Area Labor Council president.
-- Leonard "Scotty" Smith Award: Carl Meade, retired president, Ashland Area Labor Council.
-- Lewis Hicks Lifetime Achievement Award: Billy Thompson, USW District 8 director.
-- President's Award: Bill Finn, retired state director, Kentucky State Building and Construction Trades Council.
The two-day convention was held as a virtual Zoom webinar because of the continuing COVID-19 pandemic.
Following President Bill Londrigan's call to order at 9 a.m. on Monday, the Fayette County sheriff's department honor guard presented the colors, and Joe Holland, UMWA Local 1605, led the pledge of allegiance to the flag.
Opening ceremonies also included Leslie Osborne, Laborers' Local 189, singing the National Anthem and Bishop John Stowe of the Catholic Diocese of Lexington delivering the invocation.
Special video presentations commemorated the lives of the late AFL-CIO presidents Richard L. Trumka and John J. Sweeney as well as Kentucky trade unionists who had died since the 2019 convention in Lexington.
After Londrigan gave the state federation report, delegates also heard reports from the Rules and Credentials committees.
Monday speakers included AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler, Gov. Andy Beshear, state Labor Secretary Jamie Link, Tennessee AFL-CIO President Billy Dycus and Congressman John Yarmuth, D-Louisville, House Budget Committee chair.
Other speakers were Berry Craig, state AFL-CIO webmaster-editor; Liz Rilley, AFL-CIO organizing data strategist; U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh (videotaped remarks); UMWA President Cecil E. Roberts; Democratic state Reps. Joni Jenkins and McKenzie Cantrell, both of Louisville; Frankfort attorney Anna Whites; Jerald Adkins, partner, Working Strategies 2, and Jill Seyfred, MSW, Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky executive director.
Londrigan recessed the convention at 3 p.m., Eastern Time.
The convention resumed Tuesday at 9 a.m. with Londrigan calling the gathering to order. The invocation was delivered by the Rev. L. Clark Williams, minister at Shiloh Baptist Church and chairman of the People's Campaign. Rev. Williams also spoke about the campaign.
Tuesday's speakers and presenters included Zeke Perkins, organizer, United Campus Workers/CWA; Jason Bailey, executive director, Kentucky Center for Economic Policy; Chris Marchette, Union Strong App; Louisville attorney Ched Jennings, John Coomes and Kevin Walton, Tri-County Council of Labor; Ellen Yonts Suetholz, Kentucky Public Pension Coalition, and Charles Booker, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in next May's Democratic primary.
Secretary-Treasurer Jeff Wiggins presented the federation's financial report.
Londrigan adjourned the convention at noon. All told, 105 people registered for the convention, according to Liles Taylor, state AFL-CIO legislative coordinator who helped organize and facilitate the convention.