[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 66 (Thursday, April 18, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E476]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 IN RECOGNITION OF THE LABOR-MANAGEMENT COUNCIL OF GREATER KANSAS CITY

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                          HON. EMANUEL CLEAVER

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 18, 2019

  Mr. CLEAVER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the Labor-
Management Council (LMC) of Greater Kansas City's fortieth year serving 
the Greater Kansas City Area. Since the LMC was founded in 1979, they 
have grown to include membership from eighty organizations, including 
corporations, unions, governments, and nonprofits within the local 
area.
  In 1979, members of the Kansas City business community who all cared 
deeply about the labor and management process came together to form the 
Labor-Management Council of Greater Kansas City. During the ensuing 
years, Bob Jacobi Jr. provided steadfast and enthusiastic service as 
Executive Director of the LMC through his leadership and his passion 
for public service. It has been my honor and pleasure to partner with 
the LMC on various occasions as they sought to create an open and equal 
collaboration between local government and organizations of all sizes 
in our city.
  As a trailblazer in the Greater Kansas City area since their 
founding, the Labor-Management Council (LMC) has focused on providing 
the tools for employees to successfully negotiate with their employers 
for better benefits. The LMC developed the statuary framework of 
collective bargaining where employees could advocate for things like 
better healthcare and reduction of employment uncertainty. The LMC 
supported legislative proposals to provide relief via safety net 
hospitals for workers and Medicaid coverage for the newly unemployed 
and the uninsured. They continue to advocate for a system where every 
citizen can have their voice heard, and inclusion in the workplace 
becomes a reality. As a friend and collaborator with the LMC, I am 
inspired by the work they accomplished in the forty years since their 
genesis. My collaboration with the LMC has been one of the more 
rewarding aspects of my career, and I am honored to have served 
alongside this remarkable organization.
  Throughout the years, the Labor-Management Council of Greater Kansas 
City has operated upon the pillars of their values and their dedication 
to a larger social responsibility. Refining the concept of collective 
bargaining, they used this tool of broad consensus to fight for equity 
and inclusivity in the larger economic and social issues present within 
our community. Together with their numerous partner organizations, the 
LMC provides a forum for community leaders and employees to work 
together on civic and economic issues. Examples of their noteworthy 
contributions to the community include their active support for 
accessible healthcare coverage, better public infrastructure, and 
broader citywide public transportation.
  Madam Speaker, please join with Missouri's Fifth Congressional 
District in honoring the Labor-Management Council of Greater Kansas 
City for their achievement of forty years of service in the community 
and their indelible mark on our society. I urge all my colleagues and 
fellow citizens across the country to join me in showing our 
appreciation to Labor-Management of Greater Kansas City for their 
undeterred commitment to civic service and worker advocacy in our 
region.

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