Labor Day PIcnic Awards Finally Announced!

Mother Jones Award: Jamie Dangler, Professor of Sociology at SUNY/Cortland and United University Professions Organizer (SUNY/Cortland)

Joe Hill Award: Labor Initiative Promoting Solidarity (LIPS), Student labor solidarity group at Ithaca College formed this past school year that played an absolutely instrumental role on campus and in the community about the successful campaign for a Living Wage for all Ithaca College Dining Service workers (employed by the Sodexo Corporation).

Friend of Labor Award: Pastor Rich Rose, First Baptist Church, Ithaca: For his tireless service and work on behalf of justice for workers wherever they come from, Pastor Rose in the past year played in instrumental role, locally, in bringing to light the knowledge of the unethical use of J-1 visa workers, primarily students, from around the world, into 4 month ‘cultural homestays’, which means working as Hotel Housekeepers with the Holiday Inn in Ithaca, as well as Marietta Corporation assembly line workers. As well for his incredible commitment to helping play such a strong community role in communicating to Ithaca College Administration the importance of a Living Wage for all Ithaca College workers. (See Joe Hill Award above.)

Special Media Award: To Community Activist Theresa Alt for her tireless efforts over the past decades to document all worker, economic and social justice activities that take place in Tompkins County on video and then broadcasting on Cable Access TV.