[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 140 (Tuesday, September 10, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H5106-H5107]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
IN RECOGNITION OF THE RETIREMENT OF GEORGE NEE
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from
Rhode Island (Mr. Amo) for 5 minutes.
Mr. AMO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a dedicated
champion for Rhode Island's working families, Mr. George Nee.
Last week, George publicly announced his retirement as president of
the Rhode Island AFL-CIO. On October 11, he will leave behind a
towering legacy of over 50 years of fighting for workers.
George has often said that there can be no democracy without a
vibrant union movement. That is why he has dedicated his entire career
to securing economic opportunity and advancing social justice.
As George prepares to hand over the reins, I would like to honor his
incredible story, rising from humble beginnings to become the face of
organized labor in Rhode Island.
George Nee found his calling at Boston College in the 1960s. After
meeting farmworkers from California, he was inspired to make their
cause his own. He was so inspired, in fact, that he dropped out of
school as a 21-year-old to advocate for the cause full time.
George's early jobs involved coordinating Boston's successful grape
boycott and later a lettuce boycott in Rhode Island. Thanks to his
efforts, farmworkers who spoke little to no English were able to secure
better conditions and union contracts.
He slept in church parishes, on office floors, and even in an
abandoned building on Brown University's campus. It wasn't glamorous
work, but George got the job done.
His successful efforts introduced him to key players in the labor
movement, including a soft-spoken man from Delano, Mr. Cesar Chavez.
George was his driver and a bodyguard whenever he was in the area. In
the mid-1970s, George joined Cesar and eight others in a pilgrimage
across southern California. Their courageous campaign to organize
farmworkers led to a tense standoff with growers armed with shotguns.
That is textbook George Nee: Never one to shy away from what is right
and never one to back down from a fight.
After returning to Rhode Island, George helped to organize an
independent union for jewelry, clerical, and healthcare workers. This
organization became the Service Employees International Union, or SEIU,
Local 1199. George served as its founding president from 1976 to 1983.
Madam Speaker, I have a personal connection to Local 1199. It is the
same union my mom proudly joined when she worked as a nurse in Rhode
Island's nursing homes.
In 1983, George was hired by our statewide AFL-CIO. From staff
representative to executive director to secretary treasurer to his 15-
year run as president, George has become synonymous with the union.
Thanks to his leadership, Rhode Island AFL-CIO and its affiliates are
now more than 80,000 strong.
Our State consistently ranks as having one of the highest rates of
union membership. Despite changes in the economy and a varying degree
of appeal to organized labor, though it is at its most popular right
now, George has kept the faith. He has been tireless, relentless,
devoted, and a champion for workers and their families.
Above all, he has never lost sight of the ultimate goal, to make sure
that working people have a seat at the table whenever decisions are
being made. I saw this firsthand when I worked as an adviser in the
Governor's office in Rhode Island several years ago. I will never
forget the quintessential image of George at the Rhode Island State
House. He was roaming the halls and making the case to legislators
about the need for critical protections and critical investments.
George's accomplishments are too many to name with the time that I
have remaining, but suffice to say that his dedication to our State
will stand the test of time.
Madam Speaker, I conclude by quoting a portion of George's retirement
letter. According to George, labor is ``the strongest countervailing
force that stands up to the power of the business community with the
goal of having a level playing field. We truly are the people's
lobby.''
Truly, the people's lobby is never a bad cause to be fighting for.
For decades, George Nee has been a mentor and a friend, a colleague
and an advocate, and a fighter for the working people of Rhode Island.
He will no doubt be missed.
On behalf of the hardworking men and women of the State of Rhode
Island, I thank George.
Madam Speaker, I include in the Record George Nee's resignation
letter.
RIAFLCIO,
September 3, 2024.
Dear members of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO Executive Board
and Local Union Affiliates, I am writing to inform you that I
will be retiring as the President of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO
effective on October 11, 2024. I have been honored to serve
you and our membership at the Rhode Island AFL-CIO since
1983. I was employed as a Staff Representative in 1983. In
1985, i became the Executive Director. I was elected as your
Secretary-Treasurer in 1991, and i was elected as the
President in 2009. I would like to give a special thank you
to Ed McElroy who hired me in 1983. His faith in me will
always be appreciated.
I appreciate the confidence and trust you have had in me
over these many years.
[[Page H5107]]
Our organization has been, is now, and will be in the
future, a force for economic and social justice for all the
workers in our state. We are the strongest countervailing
force that stands up to the power of the business community
with the goal of having a level playing field. We are truly
the people's lobby. The legislation and issues tor which we
advocate improve the lives of all workers in our state.
We believe that there can be no democracy unless there is a
vibrant free trade union movement. The way we have lived up
to that ideal in Rhode Island is our commitment to
participate in our democracy. We encourage union members to
run for political office at every level. We have a process to
endorse candidates based on labor issues. We mobilize voter
registration efforts. We engage our members in assisting in
our endorsed candidates' campaigns, and we hold elected
leaders accountable.
Over the many years, we have adopted a perspective and
philosophy that organized labor has a right and
responsibility to exercise our voice when and where decisions
are made at every level of government. These decisions impact
the quality of life and economy of our state and we must be
there.
Because of the commitment and dedication of the leaders and
members that came before us, Rhode Island has always been a
strong labor state. We achieve our maximum effectiveness when
we are pro-business, pro-growth, pro-labor and pro-union.
Because of your commitment and activity, it remains so today,
and I strongly believe that as our labor movement goes
forward with new leadership, it will be even stronger in the
future.
We will continue to get stronger by organizing new members.
We will continue to be among the states with the highest
percentage of union members. We will continue to provide high
quality and innovative education and training programs
through our Institute for Labor Studies and Research. We will
continue to champion innovative programs like Climate Jobs RI
which enhance our image in the community and protect our
future.
I am grateful and thankful that you have allowed me to be a
part of this movement that has brought justice, prosperity,
and hope to so many people.
In Solidarity,
George H. Nee,
President.
____________________