[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 14]
[House]
[Pages 19271-19272]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO JOE D. GUNN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee of Texas) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in tribute of Joe 
D. Gunn, the President of the AFL-CIO in Texas. I offer praise and 
thanks to him for his more than 40 years of service as a labor leader.
  Joe Gunn has been a dedicated labor leader for the workers of Texas, 
and his example and influence have had ripple effects across the 
country. He is a hard working and fair man, with an effervescent 
slogan, ``Dignity for Workers--A right, not a privilege! I could not 
agree with him more.
  Joe operates with the character of someone who learned hard work, 
honesty, integrity, justice and compassion at an early age. He was the 
youngest of eight children born to Clarence and Mary Gunn in the small 
town of Leona, Texas. The he moved to Houston, the city we both call 
home. At the age of 16, he began working for Southwestern Bell to help 
support his family.
  In 1961, Joe's labor movement career began when he was elected 
Steward for a one-year term, Chief Steward for six months, 2nd Vice 
President for six months, and then to the position of President of CWA 
Local 6222 in June 1962. His quick rise up the leadership ladder 
exemplifies his talent and ability. It also demonstrates his joy for 
serving the people. Joe served the CWA for over a decade, during which 
the CWA became a large extended family. That union family worked to 
advance workers' rights and to strengthen the community.
  Although Joe is a Texan, he has used his gifts for the benefit of 
Texans and non-Texans alike. In fact, while with the CWA, he served on 
the bargaining committee for three contracts representing a five-state 
area. Moreover, the CWA local 6222 tripled in size during Joe's 
tenures. He conducted several strikes in CWA and was known for 
successfully using many different tactics to establish the public's 
awareness of the unfair treatment of the CWA telephone workers. Joe was 
hailed as one of the leaders of the ``Texas Labor Management 
Conference,'' as unions worked to strengthen their companies while 
demanding fairness for the workers.
  Joe was an unopposed candidate from the time he assumed the 
presidency in 1962 until he left CWA Local 6222 in

[[Page 19272]]

1973. At that time, he was with the Texas Employment Commission, the 
predecessor to the Texas Workforce Commission, as a representative of 
workers. That was the first time a union representative had ever held 
office in TEC. He remained well regarded during his time with the TEC. 
The hierarchy of TEC even termed one of Joe's craftier policies, ``The 
Gunn Rule,'' which is still in effect today.
  In 1979, Joe was elected by the Texas AFL-CIO Executive Board to the 
position of Secretary-Treasurer, where he served for a decade. Joe then 
became President of the Texas AFL-CIO in 1989 without opposition. He 
was unopposed in each succeeding election, which he credits to members 
working together as a team.
  Joe's tenure as President of the Texas AFL-CIO came at a difficult 
time for organized labor in the United States. National membership in 
labor unions, as a percentage of the workforce, fell dramatically, a 
carryover that first accelerated during the Reagan presidency. 
Unfortunately, employers poured unprecedented sums into political, 
legislative and public relations efforts to defeat union organizations.
  It is a tribute to Joe Gunn's leadership that the state Federation in 
Texas has maintained a solid membership base during his tenure. While 
union membership has fluctuated with the economy, Joe emphasized 
recruiting and keeping unions within the State federation.
  During Joe's tenure, the Texas AFL-CIO helped lead the way in many 
achievements: raising the state minimum wage to the Federal level in 
2001, winning consultation rights, helping defeat private school 
vouchers with the Texas Federation of Teachers, and improving pensions 
for the Fire Fighters and other public employees. That is quite a list 
of accomplishments and there are many others attributable to Joe's 
leadership. I simply do not have the time to list them all.
  In 1995, Joe stood tall in denouncing then governor Bush for breaking 
promises his office had made to labor unions in exchanges for labor's 
support on key legislation involving the State's workforce. Joe Gunn 
was the first Democrat in Texas to point out, on a regular basis, the 
negative consequences that Bush's policies held for working people. 
Now, the Nation is witness to the negative consequences of the 
President's polices. Therefore, Joe continues the fight.
  Finally, Mr. Speaker, when asked to characterize his most notable 
accomplishments, Joe's answer is always the same: ``Maintaining dignity 
for workers, public respect for good craftsmanship, and dedication to 
fair employers.'' Joe has always advocated a good day's work for a good 
day's pay. He has only asked for fair treatment of working families. 
And he continues to insist that workers be treated with dignity. 
Because of his commitment, his consistency, his faith, his heart, his 
leadership, and his strength, I pay tribute to Joe D. Gunn. On behalf 
of the 18th District of Texas, on behalf of the entire State, I thank 
him and honor him.

                          ____________________