Labor unions kick off United Way campaign

A cookout was held at the Plains Township Park Pavilion to kick off the local labor movement's support for the 2012 United Way of Wyoming Valley campaign, the Combined Federal Campaign and the State Employee Combined Appeal. Keynote speaker was Gene Brady, executive director, Commission on Economic Opportunity. Jim Murphy, Teamsters Local 401; Gil Cooney, UFCW Local 1776 Retiree and IBEW Local 163 Apprenticeship Program; and Sam Bianco received the United Way Unsung Labor Hero Award. The Labor Award was given to Kerri Gallagher, AFSCME D.C. 87. JoAnn Jones, Crestwood Education Association, received the Sara and Anthony Kane Outstanding Achievement Award. The Highest Number of Labor Leadership Givers Award went to Teamsters Local 401, Wyoming Valley West Education Association and PSEA Northeast Region Staff Organization. At the event, from left: Bill Jones, president and chief executive officer, United Way; Heather Wertman, president, Luzerne County Coordinating Council, PSEA; David Ritter, director of housing, Commission on Economic Opportunity; Brady; Cheri Ryan, AFSCME Local 2323, Loaned Labor Leader/SECA; Edward Harry, president, Greater Wilkes-Barre Labor Council; and Walter Klepaski, community services liaison, AFL-CIO and vice president, Labor Participation, United Way.