[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 117 (Monday, September 8, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1684-E1685]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


            CONGRATULATIONS TO LOCAL 210 AND JOHN CUNNINGHAM

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROSA L. DeLAURO

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 8, 1997

  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, on October 4, 1997, the United Brotherhood 
of Carpenters and Joiners of American Local 210 will be celebrating its 
Diamond Anniversary and also recognizing John Cunningham who has 
recently retired as president of the New England District Council of 
Carpenters and president/general agent of Local 210. I am very pleased 
to rise today to congratulate Local 210 for reaching this extraordinary 
milestone and to offer my warmest congratulations to John on the 
occasion of his retirement after 41 years of leadership.
  John is a wonderful friend of mine and I am delighted to have an 
opportunity to speak about his extraordinary record of accomplishments. 
John has overseen a number of new programs and policies during his 
tenure with Local 210. All these programs demonstrate his unwavering 
commitment to the welfare of workers. Beginning in 1968, Local 210 
kicked off the very first apprentice program in all of New England. 
Today, that program is based in Norwalk with 125 active trainees. 
John's focus has always been on helping others, not only workers but 
also their families.
  To this end, John oversaw the creation of a credit union to give 
members access to low-cost loans and a scholarship fund to make college 
money available to children of union members. However, the best example 
of John's exceptional commitment to members is his actions after the 
1987 collapse of the L'Ambiance construction site in Bridgeport. Local 
210 became the focal point of the National Building Trades Council 
effort to help the family members of those workers killed in the 
collapse. Under John's leadership, Local 210 raised more than $300,000 
for the families. I am sure that many people are very

[[Page E1685]]

grateful to John and Local 210 for spearheading this effort and for 
making this issue a priority for everyone.
  John Cunningham's lasting legacy, however, is his deeply held belief 
in the importance of unions and the need for organized labor. He 
recognizes that it is only by sticking together that labor has been 
able to achieve all the reforms and benefits that have made the 
workplace safe and secure for workers and their families. Unions are as 
relevant and important today as they were when workers first began to 
organize in this country. It is the work and commitment of leaders like 
John Cunningham and organizations like Local 210 that keeps us all 
vigilant and dedicated to the continued improvement of the lives and 
working conditions of laborers in this country.
  Again, it is my great pleasure to rise today to congratulate Local 
210 on its 100th anniversary and to thank John Cunningham for 41 years 
of dedication and leadership.

                          ____________________