Reviving the Labor Movement
Steve Kass, Executive Board, President
This year’s annual conference and meeting of the Greater New Haven Labor History Association (GNHLHA) will honor an organization and an individual with the “Pass It On” awards in addition to having a keynote address on reviving the labor movement.
The honorees are IRIS (Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services) and Frank R. Annunziato.
_________
IRIS started in 1982 and continues to this day to be a vital organization that works in New Haven, CT. to resettle refugees and other immigrants from around the world. IRIS is named after the iris flower, which thrives all over the world, and is a symbol of hope and faith.
The numbers and nationalities of clients have fluctuated as the world has changed in the past 34 years. Currently, IRIS addresses the critical needs of hundreds of refugees; about 420 arrived in New Haven and surrounding towns in 2016. Refugees come from a wide range of war-torn countries, including Sudan, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria.
IRIS recognizes that welcoming persecuted people from other countries is both an ancient and universal custom, and part of a long tradition in the United States. In today’s political climate of hatred and mistrust, organizations such as this provide an extremely important beacon of hope to us all. This award also recognizes the historical link between immigration and labor.
__________
Frank R. Annunziato’s career and commitment to the labor movement spans almost 50 years. He is an academic (PHD thesis on collective bargaining in education), writer, teacher, workshop leader, activist, labor historian and organizer. He recently retired as the Executive Director of the University Rhode Island, American Association of University Professors after 17 years. He was the founding president of the Greater New Haven Labor History Association in 1988.
As always, there will be time for refreshments and socializing with our troubadour, Frank Panzarella serenading us with labor songs. Please join us on June 25th from 1:30 - 4 pm.