[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 102 (Wednesday, July 21, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1447]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 TRIBUTE TO WALTER JOHNSON ON HIS RETIREMENT AS SECRETARY-TREASURER OF 
                    THE SAN FRANCISCO LABOR COUNCIL

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TOM LANTOS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 21, 2004

  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I invite my 
colleagues to join me in paying tribute to Mr. Walter L. Johnson, a 
dedicated union leader and a dear friend of mine. Walter recently 
announced his retirement as Secretary-Treasurer of the San Francisco 
Labor Council and is being honored on his tremendous career and his 
lifelong commitment to the labor movement at a banquet on August 6th, 
2004.
  Born and raised in North Dakota, Walter immediately enlisted in the 
army to serve his country during World War II. Serving as a Combat 
Engineer, he saw military action in Germany and Austria. At the end of 
the war, Walter returned to America where he moved to San Francisco and 
began work as a salesman at Sears Roebuck. He joined the Department 
Store Employees Union Local 1100 and immediately became an active 
member.
  Walter's passion for the union's ideals led to a meteoric rise in the 
union as he became a business agent for Local 1100 in 1957 and was 
elected as its President one year later. By 1960, Walter had been 
elected to the union's top position, Secretary-Treasurer, where he 
would remain for the next twenty-five years. Winning reelection an 
astonishing eleven times, Walter's continual success was the result of 
his continuous commitment to end discrimination in the workplace.
  After twenty-five years of tireless dedication most people would be 
content to retire and rest on their laurels. Not my good friend Walter, 
who was elected to his current position as Executive Secretary-
Treasurer at the San Francisco Labor Council in 1985. As with 
everything he does, Walter tackled this project head on and the San 
Francisco Labor Council, which had just been chartered only two years 
prior to Walter's arrival, quickly grew in statute and importance. In 
fact, many of the Labor Council's great successes on behalf of San 
Francisco's working people can be attributed to him.
  Mr. Speaker, as leader of the San Francisco Labor Council, Walter 
represents over 140 San Francisco unions and over 80,000 members. He 
has guided San Francisco's labor movement to great heights, championing 
a living wage for San Francisco workers, better benefits for city 
employees and safer working conditions. Under his leadership the 
Council continues to strive to broaden the city's employment 
opportunities and to expand the diversity throughout the Bay Area's 
workforce. His accomplishments include fighting for better working 
conditions for home care workers, efforts to bring more diversity to 
the San Francisco City College faculty and advocacy for more affordable 
housing in the city.
  Walter's commitment to his community can also be illustrated through 
his involvement in the countless boards and committees to which he is 
associated. To name a few, Walter has served on the United Food & 
Commercial Workers International Union Advisory Board, UFCW 
International Foreign Affairs Committee, the Board of San Francisco Bay 
Area Girl Scout Council, the President's Advisory Board of San 
Francisco State University and is a member of Our Redeemer Lutheran 
Church in South San Francisco.
  Although Walter will be leaving the Labor Council, I know that his 
presence in the community and the foundation he has created in the San 
Francisco labor movement will continue. On top of his heavy workload, 
Walter is a dedicated family man and I am sure his wife, Jane and his 
children and grandchildren are looking forward to seeing more of Walter 
in his retirement.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to join me in commending 
Walter L. Johnson for his forty years of dedication to the labor 
movement, his strong advocacy on behalf of the working men and women of 
this nation and his commitment to the betterment of his community. 
Walter's service and compassion toward helping his fellow working men 
and women is truly an example to all of us and his contribution to 
working America will be evident for generations to come.

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