[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 135 (Thursday, October 3, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1423-E1424]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING RICARDO ICAZA

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JULIA BROWNLEY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 3, 2013

  Ms. BROWNLEY of California. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to recognize 
Ricardo F. Icaza, a revered labor leader whose lifelong work and 
dedication has resulted in the success of Southern California's 
workforce.
   For more than 50 years, Ricardo has been a loyal and effective 
member of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) International 
Union Local 770, which currently has over 30,000 members in the food, 
retail and healthcare industries.
   Ricardo has held numerous positions in Local 770 including, research 
assistant, organizer, business representative and secretary-treasurer. 
In 1981, Ricardo became the first Latino president of Local 770 because 
of his commitment to preserving middle class values.
   Under Ricardo's resilient and unwavering leadership, Local 770 has 
become the largest local union in California and one of the largest in 
the entire nation. Ricardo demonstrated his adept negotiation skills 
numerous times in order to ensure that his members are fairly 
compensated with the pay and benefits that they have worked so hard to 
earn.
   In 2003, Ricardo stood up for the middle class and successfully led 
his members through a difficult 142 day lockout and strike resulting in 
the preservation of the health care benefits that he worked so hard to 
create throughout the course of his presidency. The tenacity Ricardo 
displayed during the lockout illustrated his dedication to improving 
the lives of working men and women.
   In addition to Ricardo's determined efforts for our region's 
workers, he is an outstanding citizen who defines philanthropy. His 
generosity and commitment to charitable causes demonstrate Ricardo's 
passion for the betterment of our community and country. In 2001, 
Ricardo established the UFCW Local 770 Icaza Foundation, a unique non-
profit organization that raises funds for leukemia research and other 
worthy local charities.

[[Page E1424]]

   Ricardo's contributions to our community surpass his duties with 
Local 770. He is currently the Vice President of the Labor Council of 
Latin American Advancement (LCLAA), a current board member of the 
National Association for Hispanic Elderly and a former trustee of the 
California State University system. He also serves as the President of 
the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, which is the largest labor 
federation in the country.
   Ricardo's remarkable and longstanding career exemplifies his passion 
and commitment to our community's working people. I am pleased to join 
the Tri-Counties Central Labor Council in honoring Ricardo F. Icaza.

                          ____________________