New York State AFL-CIO President Mario Cilento, who was just re-elected last week to the position for a fourth four-year term, addressed IAM 41st Grand Lodge Convention delegates with an uplifting speech about the labor movement’s legacy of helping future generations by building on.
As president of the New York State Federation, Cilento represents 2.5 million members of AFL-CIO-affiliated unions in the state.
Cilento praised IAM District 15 Directing Business Representative Norm Shreve for spearheading state legislative issues and serving the greater labor movement.
“Norm Shreve serves on the Executive Board of the State AFL-CIO as a vice president, and that’s amazing in-and-of itself because he has a day job, 24 hours a day, seven days a week to represent all of you. Yet he still finds the time to serve the greater labor movement in this state,” said Cilento. “I want you to know what an incredible job he does for all of you and your members in this area and in this region of the state, helping us chart a course for the future of the labor movement.”
Cilento has a robust history of fighting for New York’s working families, starting as a member of the Newspaper Guild-CWA in 1990. He became involved with the New York State AFL-CIO in 1992 and was first elected president in 2011.
He shared a personal story about how his late father’s decision to join a union impacted Cilento’s family for generations.
“All those years ago, he knew that everything he worked for and every minute he gave to his union was going to help his family have a better life for generations to come,” said Cilento. “That’s what we’re all doing here today. That’s what this day is about. It is about joining together for members who will never know your name. They’re not going to know us, but we have a responsibility to build upon everyone who came before us for the generations of all members to come.”
Under his leadership, the New York State AFL-CIO has achieved significant legislative victories, including passing the Farmworkers Fair Labor Practices Act, winning protections in renewable energy projects, and prohibiting captive audience meetings.
“From now on in this state, if an employer calls a captive audience meeting, workers can leave that meeting and not be punished,” said Cilento.
Cilento’s words reminded delegates of their purpose in this moment, at this Convention.
“We all have different stories as to why we got involved and how we all ended up here today,” said Cilento in closing to IAM Convention delegates. “But the reality is, we all share those values and those principles, those ideals and the same shared sense of purpose to raise the standard of living for our members and families. That’s a beautiful thing we should celebrate that today.”
The post New York Labor Leader Mario Cilento Empowers Delegates of IAM Grand Lodge Convention appeared first on IAMAW.