[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 43 (Monday, March 8, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E208-E209]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     TRIBUTE TO GAYLE GRIFFIN, AFGE'S DISTRICT 7 WOMAN OF THE YEAR

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. GWEN MOORE

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 8, 2021

  Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the 
career and ongoing legacy of Gayle Griffin, a retired nurse formerly 
employed at Milwaukee's Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center and 
President of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) 
Local 3. She is an exemplary voice in our community and has 
consistently used her position to defend others. I want to congratulate 
her on her recent selection as AFGE's District 7 Woman of the Year.
  Gayle is the first African American to ever be elected president of 
her Local AFGE branch. During her time in AFGE leadership, she has 
continually used her position to advocate for her members against anti-
union executive orders, racism, and other inequities as a fierce 
champion for social justice.
  Throughout her eleven-year career as a nurse serving our veterans at 
the Milwaukee VA, Gayle was one of many Black nurses who endured racism 
in her workplace. However, rather than backing down, she resolutely 
sought to protect and defend the rights of workers at the Local AFGE 
branch. She has spoken out about the tremendous struggles that VA 
nursing staff are facing amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and has 
repeatedly called for more honest communication from the Department of 
Veterans Affairs with its employees.
  On February 21, 2021, Gayle was selected as AFGE's District 7 Woman 
of the Year. This important award is granted to those who exhibit 
selfless dedication to union solidarity, public service, and workplace 
health and safety. This is an honor that Gayle has truly earned. She 
has fought tirelessly to protect the health of veterans, for workers' 
rights, and for commonsense workplace safety and equity--especially 
during the devastation of the COVID-19 pandemic.
  Her altruistic spirit and inspiring dedication to her colleagues and 
community are why Gayle is so deserving of the title of AFGE's District 
7 Woman of the Year. Wisconsin's 4th Congressional District, and the 
veterans who depend on the VA for their health care, have been made 
better as a result of Gayle's phenomenal work. I sincerely respect her 
determination and applaud her accomplishments. Madam Speaker, I am 
proud to honor my constituent and her recent accomplishment and 
celebrate the great work that she and others in AFGE District 7 are 
doing in service to our veterans, our country and the state of 
Wisconsin.

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