[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 20]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 29681]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[[Page 29681]]

  HONORING NICHOLAS AIELLO FOR RECEIVING THE AUGUSTA LEWIS TROUP AWARD

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROSA L. DeLAURO

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, November 15, 1999

  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to my good 
friend, Nicholas Aiello, as he receives the Augusta Lewis Troup ``Pass 
it on'' Award for his contributions to the labor movement in New Haven.
  The Augusta Lewis Troup ``Pass it on'' Award is presented annually to 
those individuals who have committed a lifetime to fighting for workers 
rights. Born in New York City in 1849, Troup, a career journalist, 
became the first female national officer of a trade union in the United 
States when she was elected Corresponding Secretary of the National 
Typographical Union in 1868. Troup dedicated her life not only to 
ensuring workers rights, but also raising awareness and fighting for 
women's rights to vote. Troup came to New Haven as an active 
suffragist, and is remembered as an untiring activist--striving to 
alleviate the conditions of local working people and the poor.
  For over a half century, Nick Aiello has dedicated his life to the 
principles which Augusta Troup expounded. As an organizer and leader of 
the Amalgamated Clothing Workers Union Local 125, Nick fought 
tirelessly for the rights of garment workers in New Haven. As the 
daughter of a garment worker, this fight holds a special place in my 
heart. My mother toiled in the sweatshops of New Haven's garment 
factories, sewing shirt collars for pennies a piece.
  Nick has also worked his entire life to make his community a better 
place to live and grow. He has been active in local and state politics. 
He was the Commissioner on Equal Opportunity for the city of New Haven, 
which strives to ensure that workplace standards are strictly adhered 
to in all city employment. Nick's work on these and other community 
organizations is truly commendable--he has helped make New Haven a 
successful, vibrant community.
  It is with great pride that I rise to join his son, Michael, friends, 
family, and the entire New Haven community in saluting my dear friend, 
Nick, as he receives the 1999 Augusta Lewis Troup ``Pass it on'' Award. 
Congratulations.

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