[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 48 (Wednesday, April 4, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S3435]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     IN RECOGNITION OF JOHN JOHNSON

 Mr. TORRICELLI. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the 
accomplishments and commitment of one of New Jersey's great leaders, 
John ``J.J.'' Johnson. He has dedicated his life to protecting and 
promoting the rights of his fellow union members and has worked to help 
many others build on the promise of the American Dream.
  J.J first became active in the labor movement in 1960, when he 
organized the workers at the Peter Pan factory in East Newark, New 
Jersey. Since then, J.J. has worn many hats in his long and 
distinguished career of public service. For ten years, J.J. served as 
Secretary-Treasurer of Postal Union, Local #10. In 1975, J.J. co-
founded Service Employees International Union Local 617, where he 
served for 25 years as Executive Vice President. Since then, Local 617 
has become New Jersey's largest Public Employee Local, representing 
over 3,500 members.
  Throughout the years, J.J. has been on the front line of progress for 
union members in New Jersey. In 1996, J.J. became the first African 
American from New Jersey to be elected to the Executive Board of the 
Service Employees International Union. As a member of the board, J.J. 
fought for fair wages, better health benefits, and safer working 
conditions, and was later elected president of the SEIU New Jersey 
State Council, which represents over 25,000 workers in the State of New 
Jersey.
  In 1998, J.J. had the honor of being the first African American to 
serve as Grand Marshall of the Essex-West Hudson Labor Council 
``Celebration of Labor Day Parade,'' and received the National 
Leadership Achievement Award from the SEIU Caucus of People of African 
Descent. In 2000, J.J. also became the first African American to 
receive the New Jersey AFL-CIO Labor Award, and later this month he 
will be honored by the National African American Caucus of the SEUI for 
his outstanding leadership in the Union.
  I am proud to recognize the accomplishments of J.J. Johnson, a man 
who for thirty years has been a standard bearer of the labor movement. 
His hard work, determination, and service are a model for our labor 
leaders, indeed all leaders, to follow and learn from.

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