[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 142 (Tuesday, October 21, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2032-E2033]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                        TRIBUTE TO JAMES BUTLER

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOSE E. SERRANO

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 21, 1997

  Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Mr. James Butler, 
president of Local 420 Municipal Hospital Employees Union, DC37, 
AFSCME, AFL-CIO. On October 11, officers, trustees and executive board 
of local 420 held a dinner dance in Manhattan to celebrate his 25th 
silver anniversary as president, as well as his birthday.
  Jim Butler began his service to local 420 as a union organizer in 
1954. He has been a tireless fighter for better pay, health, education, 
and other benefits for hospital employees. Mr. Butler has long been 
part of the struggle for equal opportunity for minorities within the 
labor movement through active membership in the Coalition of Black 
Trade Unionists, PUSH, NAACP, Urban League, and SCLC Labor Committees. 
He served on the executive board of CBTU's New York chapter as well as 
the New York Consumer Assembly's board of directors.
  As vice president of the 120,000 member District Council 37, AFSCME, 
AFL-CIO, Mr. Butler represented AFSCME as a delegate to the Public 
Service International Congress in Singapore, Zimbabwe, Finland, and the 
Labor Committee in Puerto Rico. He is co-chair of AFSCME's Health 
Advisory Committee, where he represents the interests of more than 
350,000 health care workers nationwide.
  Throughout his life, Mr. Butler's philosophy has been one of helping 
those in need without expecting anything in return. He would often say: 
``I have devoted my life to helping health care workers. Health care 
workers help the ill, but when they are ill there is no one to help 
them. They work under the kind of stress that most people can only 
imagine.''
  In the past several years, Butler and his local have waged a battle 
against threats to privatize public hospitals in New York City. They 
recently saw their efforts pay off with a victory in stopping the 
privatization of Coney Island Hospital. In June, Jim Butler and his 
members boarded the ``freedom bus'' from New York to Quincy, FL, to 
march for justice with the mushroom workers of the United Farm Workers.
  Under his leadership, local 420's political action also makes itself 
felt in voter education and registration drives. Annually, the local 
registers thousands of voters and directly involves hundreds of union 
members in political campaigns.
  Jim Butler resides in Astoria, NY with his wife, Eloise.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mr. James 
Butler for his outstanding contributions to the advancement of

[[Page E2033]]

the labor movement and of the African-American community.

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