[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 24 (Wednesday, March 1, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E245]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING THE CAREER AND WORK OF MS. MARY JO AVERY, ON THE OCCASION 
                           OF HER RETIREMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. GWEN MOORE

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 1, 2006

  Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 
extraordinary contributions of a community and labor leader in the 4th 
Congressional District. Ms. Mary Jo Avery, long-time member and officer 
of Local 4603 of the Communications Workers of America, has dedicated 
her life to public service. I salute her for her achievements as she 
retires from SBC-Ameritech after 32 years of service.
  Within the labor movement, Ms. Avery worked tirelessly to advance 
women's leadership and to advocate for solutions to the unique 
difficulties women workers often face. An award-winning union leader, 
she also played a pivotal role in developing the Wisconsin Women's 
Network into a vibrant and powerful organization. She helped mentor, 
develop, support and advance women leaders, not only within the labor 
movement but in the broader community. Herself a devoted parent--mother 
of four, grandmother of 9, and great-grandmother of 5--she argued for 
establishing policies and practices that would facilitate workers' 
efforts to maintain a work/family balance. CWA's leadership on this 
issue no doubt drew many lessons from Ms. Avery's own personal 
experience.
  Also a noted civil rights activist, Ms. Avery connected the labor 
movement to local and national civil rights struggles. She received the 
National A. Philip Randolph Rosina Tucker Award for civil rights 
leadership and the Black Women's Network's Outstanding Achievement 
Award. Since 1995, she has served as President of the Milwaukee Chapter 
of the A. Philip Randolph Institute, and was previously appointed to 
the City of Milwaukee's Civil Rights Commission.
  I have known Ms. Avery for over 20 years. She has been an important 
ally in the struggle to realize ideals we both share, and has been a 
personal source of inspiration and support. In all she does, Mary Jo 
works to ensure that the promise of America is extended to those often 
left out--women, people of color, and other vulnerable communities. I 
commend her for these accomplishments, thank her for her groundbreaking 
leadership, and wish her a long and enjoyable retirement.

                          ____________________