Local 506 Receives
First Annual
‘Unity In Diversity’ Award

ERIE, Pa.

Local 506 Business Agent Patrick Rafferty, a committee member, accepts the award from Rev. Bob Lewis of CARE (at right). The Unity Committee members hold the award; from left, Don Kosobucki, Pat Rafferty, Wayne Burnett, Local Pres. Dave Adams, Denny McLaughlin, Donna Cramer and Dennis Crawford.

The UE Local 506 Unity Committee received the first annual "Unity in Diversity" award on November 19 from Citizens Against Racism in Erie (CARE) for its work in promoting tolerance and understanding within the workforce employed at General Electric’s plant here.

Committee members intervene when racial or other problems of discrimination occur in the shop. "To the best of our knowledge, this is the only labor organization doing this kind of work," commented AnnDrea Benson of the awards panel.

The presentation took place at the Cascade Methodist Church at the second annual Unity in our Community event; the first event, in November 1998, offered Erie residents a forum to celebrate their diverse cultures on the same day a faction of the KKK polluted the Erie County Court House.

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