Sen. Sandra Cunningham, Charles Hall Jr., Bob Braun and the late Nick Yovnello recognized
EDISON… On Saturday, the American Federation of Teachers New Jersey (AFTNJ) convention honored four individuals whose leadership made significant contributions in improving education and advancing workers rights. “Those of us who work so hard to educate students know that we need to engage with community to initiate change,” said AFTNJ President Donna M. Chiera. “These awards are given to our friends as a token of how much we appreciate the sustained effort it takes to hold coalitions together, to build consensus with allies and to have the courage to speak truth to power.”
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Higher Education Executive Vice President Susanna Tardi, Ph.D. credited New Jersey State Senator Sandra Cunningham for her responsiveness and leadership as chair of the Senate Higher Education committee. Sen. Cunningham said she felt honored to receive the “Friend of Higher Education” award and pledged to continue to her efforts on behalf of the state’s college and university students. “As an advocate for continuing education, I am humbled to be honored during AFT’s 68th Convention,” she said. “Education is, and will always be, the key to a successful future.”
For playing a leading role in the historic grassroots campaign last year to raise New Jersey’s minimum wage, Chiera presented the “Friend of Labor” award to Working Families United for New Jersey (WFUNJ), Inc. “As the name of this award implies, our efforts helped to improve the lives of working families,” said union leader and WFUNJ chair Charles Hall Jr. “We not only ensured that 400,000 workers got a raise, we also enacted a policy which benefits our economy and community as a whole.”
John Abeigon, Director of Organization for the Newark Teachers Union, presented the “Friend of Education” award to Bob Braun for his independent journalism, especially in covering the state attack on Newark Public Schools. “In the past, I disagreed with AFT on what was best for public education,” said Braun. “Now we are united in recognizing a dire threat to the very existence of public education from alleged reformers who are the willing tools of rightwing ideologues and big money hustlers. I believe the AFT must take a lead role in fighting the well-organized and well-financed privatizers and, in whatever way I can, I will support that effort.”
Finally, the President of the Council of New Jersey State College Locals Tim Haresign presented the “Ray Peterson Pride of the Union” award to the family of the late Nick Yovnello, his long-tenured predecessor as College Council President. Haresign noted that the union would need to take many of Nick’s lessons back to the bargaining table next year in negotiations with the state, which Nick led on behalf of the College Council for years. Nick’s brothers Tony and Len and friend Maureen Crouch accepted the award on behalf of the family.
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Photos by Chris McAvoy