Labor awards to honor top ten

LIUNA President Terry O’Sullivan

Less is more when it comes to honoring Irish America’s contribution to the cause of labor.

That’s the message from Irish America’s premier celebration of working men and women this year which will focus on ten top labor leaders.

“We’ve raised a glass to fifty and a hundred labor champions in previous years, but in 2015 we have decided to focus on just ten giants of Irish America who have made a significant contribution to the labor movement in the United States,” said Irish Echo publisher, Máirtín Ó Muilleoir.

“And among that select few will be our Irish American Labor Leader of the Year, an accolade which last year went to John Hegarty, then President of the National Postal Handlers Union, and in 2013 to Sandhogs chief James Ryan, both of course revered figures in the national labor movement.”

Guest speakers at this year’s labor celebration on September 25 in the Edison Ballroom, Manhattan, will be LIUNA General President Terry O’Sullivan and Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams TD.

“As the Build America Union, LIUNA is delighted again to be spearheading support for the Irish American Labor Awards and looks forward to saluting the heroes across the US who are driving the US forward,” said O’Sullivan.

"Throughout history, our Irish heritage and the struggle for workers’ rights have been one and the same, and I’m delighted to see those two great themes merge in the Irish Labor 10.”

Nominations for the labor awards can be made online at www.irishecho.com up until Friday, July 24.