HR0708 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0708 LRB096 15116 GRL 30163 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate the members of the Decatur Trades & Labor Assembly on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the organization's charter with the AFL-CIO; and

WHEREAS, Following the 1955 merger of the American Federation of Labor and the Congress of Industrial Organizations, the mergers of their central bodies had to be completed at the local level; on February 10, 1959, the AFL and CIO affiliates in Decatur merged to form the Decatur Trades & Labor Assembly; and

WHEREAS, The newly-created Decatur Trades & Labor Assembly, composed of several unions in the public and private sectors, pledged early on to play a strong role in the community; having pledged to come together as a central labor council, the Assembly established a committee structure that would support the council's activities; the Assembly chose William Moore, a member of IBEW Local 51, to serve as the group's first President; and

WHEREAS, The Decatur Trades & Labor Assembly has had a rich history of tireless efforts to help workers organize unions, win and enforce contracts, improve working conditions, and create a sense of solidarity amongst workers; the Assembly has also published newspapers, promoted union labels, participated in political causes, educated the public on union issues, and supported striking workers; and

WHEREAS, The Decatur Trades & Labor Assembly has also promoted various charitable and civic causes, including blood drives for the American Red Cross, food drives for local food banks, "Get Out the Vote" efforts during elections, and various humanitarian efforts with the United Way; the Assembly also participates in various coalitions with faith-based groups and the NAACP, among others; and

WHEREAS, The Decatur Trades & Labor Assembly currently represents 35 affiliated unions and more than 14,000 union members and their families in Macon County; and

WHEREAS, The efforts of the Decatur Trades & Labor Assembly have been vital in the safeguarding of worker's rights in the City of Decatur and its surrounding areas; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the members of the Decatur Trades & Labor Assembly on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the organization's charter with the AFL-CIO and wish them continued success and happiness in the future; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the members of the Decatur Trades & Labor Assembly as a symbol of our esteem and respect.