[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 64 (Thursday, May 10, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E779]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  A TRIBUTE TO THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CENTRAL LABOR COUNCIL OF 
                        ALAMEDA COUNTY, AFL-CIO

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FORTNEY PETE STARK

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 10, 2001

  Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the Central Labor Council 
of Alameda County, AFL-CIO on the occasion of its 100th anniversary. 
The Central Labor Council of Alameda County has a long history of 
organizing, advocacy, activism and progressive leadership over the past 
century. I would like to highlight some of their many accomplishments 
and contributions.
  The Central Labor Council was one of the first labor organizations in 
the country to take a high profile position in support of the Civil 
Rights Movement. Executive Secretary-Treasurer, Richard Groulx joined 
Martin Luther King, Jr. in the march in Selma, Alabama in 1964.
  The Central Labor Council was in the forefront in the demand for 
divestiture in apartheid South Africa. Long before the issue captured 
national attention, the Central Labor Council of Alameda County joined 
with religious, community and student groups to demand divestiture by 
the University of California. Secretary-Treasurer Groulx spoke to a 
rally of over 20,000, vowing labor's support for the divestiture.
  The Central Labor Council of Alameda County was one of the first 
labor bodies to recognize the United Farm Workers Organizing Committee 
and Cesar Chavez by lending money and physical support to the fledgling 
organization.
  When the Port of Oakland was locked in a year-long bureaucratic 
quagmire in its attempts to dredge the shipping lanes to accommodate 
the new larger container ships, it was the Central Labor Council of 
Alameda County and its Secretary-Treasurer Owen Marron who brought the 
stalemate to an end. He brought business, labor, elected officials and 
the Port together in a coalition. As a result, the impasse was broken 
and dredging within an acceptable environmental plan is underway.
  Thanks to the political clout of the Central Labor Council in 
partnership with a coalition of local unions, community and religious 
organizations, Living Wage ordinances have been passed by the cities of 
Oakland, Berkeley and Hayward as well as a major employer, the Port of 
Oakland.
  A collaboration of the Central Labor Council, under the leadership of 
the present Secretary Judy Goff, and the Labor Immigrant Organizing 
Network, has lead to the passage of a resolution of immigrant's rights. 
The immigrant rights resolution was sent to the California Labor 
Federation and the AFL-CIO leading to a change in the AFL-CIO's 
position on immigrant worker's rights.
  Congratulations Central Labor Council of Alameda County, AFL-CIO on 
your centennial birthday and best wishes in your continued successful 
efforts to organize for justice in our community.

                          ____________________