Members In Action

FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICE — PEF Region 11 leaders and members pose for a photo during the “Men of Distinction” awards held in June. Standing (L-R): Richard Dillard, Don Morgenstern, Nithiananda Chatterjie, Jemma Marie-Hanson, Alan Schulkin, Pat Baker, James Stewart and Brian Block (representative for Sen. Malcom Smith). Seated (L-R) Larry Parker, Ken Dischel, Assembly Member Peter J. Abbate Jr, Peter Penton and Royal Willie. — Photo by Donna Harris

Nine men in PEF Region 11 were honored for their union involvement June 21 at the regional office where approximately 50 people came to tip their hats to the recipients of the recognition awards.

“It is truly an honor to have these men in our Region 11 community. They take pride in the work they do,” said PEF Region 11 Coordinator Jemma Marie-Hanson.

“They have contributed so much of themselves, their time and efforts to better the membership. We greatly appreciate their continued commitment for the work they do and feel they should be recognized,” Hanson said.

Two outstanding PAC (Political Action Committee) activist awards were presented to Nithiananda Chatterjie and Alan Schulkin.

Don Morgenstern and Larry Park each received an outstanding leadership award.

Outstanding contributions in photography went to Ken Dischel and Richard Dillard.

The two distinguished activist awards went to Peter Penton and Royal Willie.

James Stewart was the recipient of the distinguished service award.

The awards were present by Hanson, and the speaker at the event was Assembly Member Peter J. Abbate Jr.

— Deborah A. Miles

By DEBORAH A. MILES
For taking a leading role in health and safety issues, PEF Division 199 Council Leader Paul Stein received the prestigious Karen Silkwood Award May 29 in Manhattan at the United Federation of Teachers headquarters.

The award is presented annually by the New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health (NYCOSH) to a union activist who has made a major contribution to
occupational safety and health.

“I felt very honored to receive this recognition from the leadership of the New York labor health and safety community,” Stein said.

Stein, PEF Division 199 health and safety chair, is a lawyer who works at the state Department of Health (DOH) and has devoted much of his energy to improving the conditions that resulted from the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center (WTC) in 2001.

The DOH offices moved to 90 Church Street following Sept. 11 and workers faced exposure to contamination from the demolition and construction of the WTC site.

Stein was an organizer of the 90 Church Street Labor Coalition and played a central role in the multi-union campaign that forced city, state and federal agencies to provide important safeguards such as double windows, higher efficiency air filters, and regular air testing.

Stein currently serves on several WTC committees and regularly testifies on behalf of PEF at numerous meetings, hearings and demonstrations about Sept. 11 safety and health issues.

“I continue to learn from my colleagues in PEF and other union and community activists with whom I have a close working relationship,” Stein said. “Organizing around workplace health and safety issues not only protects our members, but serves as a vehicle to build the labor movement and foster union solidarity.”

Stein also conceived and wrote the first draft of PEF’s Emergency Response Guidelines, and was the recipient of PEF’s health and safety honor, the Judith Scanlon Award in 2005.