press releases

DENISE BERKLEY, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, CSEA, TO RECEIVE RICHARD L. TRUMKA WORLD PEACE PRIZE FOR SOLIDARITY

DENISE BERKLEY, CSEA-AFSCME TO RECEIVE

RICHARD L. TRUMKA WORLD PEACE PRIZE FOR SOLIDARITY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Telephone: 202-544-0568

Friday, November 17, 2023

The World Peace Prize has announced that another recipient of the “Richard L. Trumka World Peace Prize for Solidarity” will be Denise Berkley, Executive Vice President, CSEA (Civil Service Employees Association) and an International Vice President of AFCME.

The Presentation Ceremony will take place during the first week (working week) of March 2024, 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM at CSEA Metropolitan Region 2 Office 125 Maiden Lane, 5th. Floor, New York, NY 10038

The actual date will be announced later.

Ms.Berkley’s office will issue the invitations to this free event—not a fundraiser. The World Peace Prize does not issue invitations.

The announcement was made by Fr. Sean, McManus, Chief Judge of the World Peace Prize and President of the Capitol Hill-based Irish National Caucus/Irish Peace Foundation.

Fr. McManus said:

“I have the honor of being the Chief Judge of the World Peace Prize, which is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea. It was founded in 1989 by the late Presbyterian Minister Rev. Dr. Han Min Su.

The World Peace Prize Awarding Council is composed of representatives of the nine Major World Religions, and it selects worthy potential Laureates of the World Peace Prizes of ‘Roving Ambassador for Peace’; ‘World Peace Prize for Labor Leadership’; and ‘World Peace Prize for Solidarity,’ re-named after President Trumka’s death (August 5, 2021) the ‘Richard L. Trumka World Peace Prize for Solidarity.”—www.worldpeaceprizewashington.org

“The late, great President Trumka, God rest him, on February 3, 2016, at his AFL-CIO Headquarters, helped us to launch the World Peace Prize throughout American Organized Labor. To do so, he graciously agreed to receive all three World Peace Prizes. He died before he could receive the World Peace Prize for Solidarity, so we posthumously presented it to his family, and then in his honor re-named it the ‘Richard L. Trumka World Peace Prize for Solidarity.’

President Trumka deeply appreciated and enthusiastically supported our linking Organized Labor to the World Peace Prize and that is now an important part of his legacy. View his own 3-minute statement.”—

https://drive.google.com/file/d/13ZF5S61DVCS7Cuey4YAl3Dn6kA0ztr3C/view

RE-NAMING PRIZE WARMLY WELCOMED

The re-naming of the Prize has been warmly welcomed by the Trumka Family: “We are honored that Rich’s name will live on, always linked with solidarity and peace because the World Peace Prize for Solidarity will be re-named in his honor the ‘Richard L. Trumka World Peace Prize for Solidarity.'” (October 9, 2021).

President Liz Shuler, AFL-CIO, said: “Rich Trumka’s contributions to peace and prosperity around the world were countless. He was a global ambassador for worker rights, economic justice, dignity, and respect for all human beings. I can think of no one more deserving of this honor.” (November 8, 2021).

And, his son, Rich Jr., has stated: “[My father] appreciated that the World Peace Prize saw what so many others missed…that organized labor through solidarity, and the pursuit of justice, forges the path to peace.” (January 5, 2023).

Fr. McManus explained: “In President Trumka’s memory, I now refer to American Organized Labor as “Organized Love of Neighbor” because “Love of Neighbor” means, in effect and consequence, the doing of social justice on this earth.

President Trumka also strongly supported our policy of diversity, equity, and inclusion in our selection of World Peace Prize Laureates.”

Denise Berkley, Executive Vice President, CSEA, and an International Vice President of AFCME.

Fr. McManus continued: “I was pleased and honored to propose

Denise Berkley, Executive Vice President, CSEA, for this very

special World Peace Prize because, like the late, beloved President Trumka, she has demonstrated life-long dedication to the Union, solidarity, social and economic justice, and peace.

Ms.Berkley is a distinguished, impressive, and effective Labor leader—a trailblazer and a legend in New York State and throughout American Organized Labor. And an ideal Laureate of the Richard L.Trumka World Peace Prize for Solidarity. The CSEA website states this about Ms. Berkley: ‘A longtime union activist, she remains just as committed today to the ongoing struggle for social, racial and economic justice for workers and communities, as when her activism began as a leader in the local struggle against apartheid in South Africa in her youth.'”(See her acceptance-quote below).

Since I became the Chief Judge, we have made social justice the heart and soul of peace, and of the World Peace Prize.

Why does a World Religion peace group make social justice so central?

Because, as the American Protestant Old Testament Scholar, Rev.Walter Brueggemann has stated: ‘In Biblical faith, the doing of justice is the primary expectation of God.’

Because Islamic scholar Ajmal Masroor states: ‘Standing firm for justice is considered closest to Godliness. In other words, my religious and social responsibility is to work for just causes.’

Because Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. taught us that peace is the fruit of justice; and Saint Pope John Paul II taught us, ‘peace is the fruit of solidarity.’

Because the Catholic Church teaches: ‘… Action on behalf of justice [is] a constitutive dimension of the preaching of the Gospel…and [a constitutive dimension] of the Church’s mission for the redemption of the human race and its liberation from every oppressive situation.’

Because this is how Jesus Christ, Himself, announced His mission: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has appointed me to bring good news to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives, to give the blind new sight, and to set free all who are oppressed,” (Luke 4:18-19).

And because Jesus declared: “In so far as you did it to least of my brothers and sisters, you did it to me.” (Matthew 25:40).

That is why we were able to place American Organized Labor in the category of those who should be considered worthy recipients of the World Peace Prize—because Labor leaders who spend their lives fighting for social and economic justice for working women and men are also building peace locally, nationally, and worldwide.

And, the wonderful thing about placing social justice at the heart and center of peace is this: People of faith believe that faith must be the faith that does justice on this earth (otherwise, it is not faith). And people of no faith, but of goodwill, also know they have to do justice (otherwise, they are not of goodwill),” Fr. McManus concluded.

Vice President Berkley’s Acceptance Quote:

“I am honored and humbled to receive this precious Prize— a Prize not only for World Peace, which is so poignant in regards to our world today, but one re- named in honor of the beloved President Trumka, and a Prize dedicated to solidarity. I accept it not only as a personal honor but also as a corporate honor on behalf of our great union, CSEA.

I always admired President Trumka’s leadership, because he was a servant leader, working for others and not for themselves.

I am also pleased to accept this Prize because it means so much to President Trumka’s family. President Trumka’s leadership in helping to launch the World Peace Prize throughout American Organized Labor is now an important part of his splendid legacy. And I will do all I can to honor that legacy.” END OF QUOTE.

END.

Fr. Sean Mc Manus.

Chief Judge, World Peace Prize

President, Irish Peace Foundation

P.O. BOX 15128,

Capitol Hill,

Washington, DC 20003-0849.

Tel. 202-544-0568. Fax.202-488-7537.

Sean@IrishNationalCaucus.org

IrishNationalCaucus.org; WorldPeacePrizeWashington.org

World Peace Prize announces Connecticut Labor leader is a Laureate of “Roving Ambassador for Peace.”

World Peace Prize announces Connecticut Labor leader is a Laureate of “Roving Ambassador for Peace.”

CAPITOL HILL. Friday, April 8, 2022—The World Peace Prize is honoring distinguished Connecticut Labor Leader, Ms. Shellye Davis — Executive Vice President, AFL-CIO— with the World Peace Prize of “Roving Ambassador for Peace.” The Presentation Ceremony will take place on a weekday from 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM— date and location to be announced later. Her office will issue the invitations to this free event—not a fundraiser.

Fr. Sean Mc Manus—President of the Capitol Hill-based Irish National Caucus/Irish Peace Foundation and Chief Judge of World Peace Prize (headquarted in Seoul, South Korea) said:
“I was pleased to propose Executive Vice President Davis for the World Peace Prize of “Roving Ambassador for Peace” because for over 25 years she has shown outstanding dedication to justice and solidarity for working men and women—on both a local, national and global level. And Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Saint Pope John Paul II remind us that peace is the fruit of justice and solidarity. (Please visit WorldPeacePrizeWashington.org for further information).
I was delighted that our panel of International and Inter-Faith judges (representing all
nine major world religious groups) agreed. I strongly believe that the Labor Movement should be recognized as powerfully contributing to world peace based on solidarity, equality, and justice. The late, great President Richard L. Trumka—who formally helped us launch the World Peace Prize within the Labor Movement in his own AFL-CIO Headquarters on February 3, 2016—most certainly agreed, and he was very pleased we have connected Labor’s “fight for social justice with the building of peace nationally and globally—https://drive.google.com/file/d/13ZF5S61DVCS7Cuey4YAl3Dn6kA0ztr3C/view

Executive Vice President Davis said: “I am profoundly honored, humbled, and blessed to accept this World Pace Prize award of ‘Roving Ambassador for Peace. ‘It is great to receive an award of this magnitude on behalf of all those who have stood with me on this journey. Words cannot begin to translate what this means to me personally. But I try to be a beacon of light and hope for those who fight for equality and justice day after day. We all deserve to be treated fairly and have a seat at the table. I have made every attempt possible to be a voice for others who have been silenced.

I believe social justice is a key component to achieve peace. I have seen first hand that solidarity is ‘a must’ to stimulate justice. No matter what part we play, just as every knit in a sweater is equally important, we can only make an impact together. As I child, I was fortunate to have loving parents, Vernal Davis and Alice Davis, who were advocates for education and being of service to others. They instilled in me the mantra: ‘We do what we can when we can.’ When others have done all they can, we pick up the mantle and carry it because as it stated in 1 Corinthians 13:13, NKJV:’- And now abide faith, hope and love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.’

I have faith that we can do it. I work with the hope that together we can change any injustice. When I see an opportunity to be of service, I do it in love because I know it will make a difference. Our future depends on being active and present now. I am deeply grateful to Fr. Sean McManus and Barbara Flaherty— also a Judge on the Awarding Council and Chairperson of the World Peace Prize Presentation Ceremony— for this World Peace Prize award.”

Fr. Mc Manus concluded: “It is truly wonderful and inspiring to witness how much the World Peace Prize

means to the devoted women and men of American Organized Labor and to see how deeply they believe

that, in fact, ‘peace is the fruit of solidarity.’ And, equally, they see, as we do, that the late beloved President Trumka’s vision and initiative in helping us to launch the World Peace Prize within the Labor Movement will be an important part of his enduring legacy. God rest him, and may his memory be a blessing.”

END.

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NYC CARPENTERS LEADER ANTHONY MADAIO SELECTED LAUREATE OF WORLD PEACE PRIZE

Capitol Hill. June 9, 2022. Italian American Anthony Madaio, 41-year-old President of Carpenters Local 157 (the largest Carpenters Local in the United States) will receive the Prize at the Presentation Ceremony on a weekday from 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM in Local 157’s Headquarters, 395 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014 — date to be announced later. His office will issue the invitations to this free event—not a fundraiser.

The announcement was made by Fr. Sean McManus, President of the Capitol Hill-based Irish National Caucus, and Irish Peace Foundation— and Chief Judge of the World Peace Prize, which is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea. The World Peace Prize was founded in 1989 by the late Presbyterian Minister, Rev. Dr. Han Min Su, and consists of a panel of International and Inter-Faith judges (representing all nine major world religious groups).”

Fr. Mc Manus said: “When we became involved with the World Peace Prize in 2013, we wanted to strongly make the point that working for peace in fact means working for justice all the time, day in day out, year after year. And what group in America better exemplifies this since the 1880s than the American Labor Movement? And the iconic Carpenters Union has been leading the way since 1881. And now the young, impressive President Madaio is leading the largest Carpenters Local in the United States—in solidarity, dedication, and with great ability.

The American Labor Movement/Organized Labor works for justice, equality, and solidarity for working women and men. Therefore, the Labor Movement and its leaders ought to be seen as very suitable potential candidates for the World Peace Prize. And Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Saint Pope John Paul II remind us that peace is the fruit of justice and solidarity. (Please visit WorldPeacePrizeWashington.org for further information).”

Fr. McManus further explained: “We took our vision to the late, great, and beloved Richard L. Trumka, President, AFL-CIO. He loved the idea, and enthusiastically wanted to help us to launch it throughout the Labor Movement—symbolically doing so at his own Washington AFL-CIO Headquarters, by being the first Labor recipient of the World Peace Prize on February 3, 2016.”

President Madaio said: “I am honored and humbled by being a laureate of the World Peace Prize, which I accept on behalf of the entire United Brotherhood of Carpenters. Like the late President Trumka, AFL-CIO, and Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien, I, too, greatly appreciate the World Peace Prize connecting American Organized Labor with peace—locally, nationally, and globally. It is also all the more meaningful to me since Fr. McManus was a good friend of our late General President Pat Campbell (1982-1988). I know Pat is smiling down on a Carpenter receiving the World Peace Prize. Solidarity forever.”

L-R: Patrick J. Campbell, General President, United Brotherhood of Carpenters. Teddy Gleason, President, International Longshoremen Association,1963-1987. (Grand Marshall of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in New York in 1984. The Irish National Caucus honored him in New York City after the Parade). Tom Donahue, Secretary-Treasurer, AFL-CIO (1979-1995) and President in 1995.

Fr. Sean McManus, President of the Irish National Caucus.

NEW TEAMSTERS LEADER, SEAN O’BRIEN, APPLAUDS WORLD PEACE PRIZE

GREGORY FLOYD NAMED A LAUREATE OF WORLD PEACE PRIZE
First Teamster to Receive Prize of “Roving Ambassador for Peace”
General President O’Brien “applauds” selection

Capitol Hill—Monday, April 4, 2022—A Teamster trailblazer for over 35 years has been selected a Laureate of the World Peace Prize of “Roving Ambassador for Peace.”

New Yorker Gregory Floyd, President of Teamsters Local 237 and Teamsters International Vice President-At Large, as well as a Trustee of New York City’s Employees’ Retirement System, will receive the prize at a date and location to be later announced. Mr. Floyd is a well-respected Black labor leader, long acknowledged as a significant force in the City’s labor movement, especially among public sector workers. Teamsters Local 237

is the largest public sector Local within the IBT.

The announcement was made by Fr. Sean McManus, President of the Capitol Hill-based Irish National Caucus/ Irish Peace Foundation, and Chief Judge of the World Peace Prize, which is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea. The World Peace Prize was founded in 1989 by the late Presbyterian Minister, Rev. Dr. Han Min Su, and consists of a panel of International and Inter-Faith judges (representing all nine major world religious groups).

Fr. Mc Manus said: “When we became involved with the World Peace Prize, we wanted to strongly make the point that working for peace, in fact, means working for justice all the time, day in day out, year after year. And what group in America better exemplifies this since the late 1880s?” The American Labor Movement/Organized Labor works for justice for working women and men. Therefore, the Labor Movement and its leaders ought to be seen as very suitable potential candidates for the World Peace Prize.

Fr. McManus further explained: “We took our vision to the late, great, and beloved Richard L. Trumka, President, AFL-CIO. He loved the idea, and enthusiastically wanted to help us launch it throughout the Labor Movement—symbolically doing so on February 3, 2016, at his own Washington AFL-CIO Headquarters by being the first Labor recipient of the World Peace Prize.”

President Floyd said: “It is a tremendous honor to receive the World Peace Prize. When I review the names of past recipients, I am humbled to be considered a member of such a prestigious group. It is with great pride that on behalf of Teamsters Local 237 and the entire International Brotherhood of Teamsters, I accept this award.”

Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien said: “On behalf of the 1.3 million members of International Brotherhood of Teamsters—as well as our General Executive Board—I want to congratulate Greg for receiving this award. We applaud this organization’s mission of connecting labor’s fight for justice with the fight for justice on many other fronts. Greg has been fighting on behalf of working families his entire life and is deserving of this honor.”

Fr. McManus warmly welcomed General President O’Brien’s praise for the selection of President Floyd as a World Peace Prize laureate. And he concluded: “I greatly appreciate General President O’Brien’s applauding the mission of the World Peace Prize and his seeing the importance of the connection we have made between Labor’s historic fight for justice and the building of World Peace—just as did the late, great, and beloved President Trumka. So, now, two of the most powerful Labor leaders in American history have applauded our mission. We have been deeply touched by how much the World Peace Prize means to the individual laureates and to their respective Unions and Locals.” END.

World Peace Prize for Top IATSE Leader

Michael Barnes, First Vice President

Barbara Flaherty, Honoree Michael Barnes, Fr. Sean McManus

CAPITOL HILL. Thursday, June 20, 2019— A top Philadelphia-based Labor leader has been awarded the World Peace Prize.

Michael Barnes, First International Vice President, IATSE (International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees) and a Vice President of the New Jersey AFL-CIO.was presented with the World Peace Prize of “Roving Ambassador for Peace” on Tuesday, June 18, 2019, at a ceremony in IATSE’s Philadelphia headquarters.

The late World Leader and Master Planner, Rev. Dr. Han Min Su, founded the World Peace Prize in Seoul, South Korea, in 1989.

The presentation was made by Fr. Sean McManus—Chief Judge of the World Peace Prize and President of the Capitol Hill-based Irish National Caucus— and the ceremony was chaired by Barbara Flaherty, a Judge of the World Peace Prize Awarding Council, and Executive Vice President of the Irish National Caucus.

The World Peace Prize Awarding Council consists of 14-member Board of International and Interfaith judges. The Board is comprised of representatives of the world’s nine major religions: Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Catholicism, Protestantism, Russian Orthodox, and Zoroastrianism.

Fr. Mc Manus explained: “Working for peace, locally or globally, means, in effect and of necessity, working for social justice. Therefore, members of the Labor Movement are ideally qualified to be recipients of our World Peace Prize. Michael Barnes eminently deserves this Prize. As Pope John Paul II has said, ‘peace is the fruit of solidarity.’ And the American Labor Movement is dedicated to solidarity, which Pope John Paul II raised to the status of a virtue in his Encyclical: Sollicitudo rei socialis (“Solicitude for social concerns”) 1988.”

Mr. Barnes expressed delight and honor as he humbly received the World Peace Prize. He outlined his long family involvement in the Labor Movement and in IATSE, stressing his proud Irish heritage and strong Irish Catholic tradition.

WORLD PEACE PRIZE GOES TO TEXAS WOMAN LABOR LEADER

Barbara Flaherty, Montserrat Garibay, Fr. Sean McManus

CAPITOL HILL. Austin, Texas.— A top Texan woman Labor leader has been awarded the World Peace Prize.

Montserrat Garibay, Secretary-Treasurer, Texas AFL-CIO, was presented with the World Peace Prize of “Roving Ambassador for Peace.”

The presentation ceremony took place on Monday afternoon, February 18, 2019, at the Texas AFL-CIO headquarters in Austin.

World Leader and Master Planner, Rev. Dr. Han Min Su, founded the World Peace Prize in Seoul, South Korea, in 1989. Dr. Han is a Presbyterian Minister.

The presentation was made by Fr. Sean McManus—Chief Judge of the World Peace Prize and President of the Capitol Hill-based Irish National Caucus— and the ceremony was chaired by Barbara Flaherty, a Judge of the World Peace Prize Awarding Council, and Executive Vice President of the Irish National Caucus.

The World Peace Prize Awarding Council consists of a 14-member Board of International and Interfaith judges. The Board is comprised of representatives of the world’s nine major religions: Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Catholicism, Protestantism, Russian Orthodox, and Zoroastrianism.

Fr. Mc Manus explained: “Working for peace, locally or globally, means, in effect and of necessity, working for social justice. Therefore, members of the Labor Movement are ideally qualified to be recipients of our World Peace Prize. Montserrat Garibay— originally from Mexico City, and once an undocumented immigrant, but now an American citizen—personifies the true Labor spirit and the true immigrant spirit. She has a driving desire to create justice and solidarity for all. She is an ideal recipient for the World Peace Prize of ‘Roving Ambassador for Peace’—for as Pope John Paul II powerfully reminds us, peace is the fruit of solidarity.”

Secretary-Treasurer Garibay in her acceptance speech expressed heartfelt appreciation for the honor of the Prize; she movingly recounted her early experience in the United States and how so many people helped her and her family to overcome difficulties. She sees her mission as Labor leader as a perfect way of “giving back”— of promoting solidarity and justice for all, with a helping hand to immigrants and all who are seeking dignity and fairness.

[Full speech will be available next week on our website — WorldPeacePrizeWashington.org]

HONORING TWO GREAT WOMEN LABOR LEADERS

Fr. Sean McManus, Elizabeth Powell, Esther Lopez, and Barbara Flaherty

Liz Shuler, Elizabeth Powell, Esther Lopez, Barbara Flaherty, and Fr. Sean McManus

CAPITOL HILL. Tuesday, February 5, 2019— Two top women labor leaders were honored today with the World Peace Prize for Labor Leadership.

The ceremony took place, appropriately, at the AFL-CIO Headquarters, Washington, DC, thanks to the graciousness of President Richard L. Trumka.

The two Honorees were Elizabeth Powell, Secretary-Treasurer, American Postal Worker Union (APWU) and Esther Lopez, Secretary-Treasurer, United Food Commercial Workers (UFCW).

Fr. McManus stated: “When Barbara Flaherty and I joined the World Peace Prize Awarding Council in 2013, we set out to achieve two objectives and to have the International-InterFaith Awarding Council endorse these objectives. The First Objective was this: to assert the fundamental truth and basic principle, that peace is the fruit of justice—that working for peace means, in fact, working for social justice. Without justice, there is no love. No Faith. No equality. No fairness. No decency. Without justice, there is no love of God, and, certainly, no love of neighbor. And our Second Objective was this: to firmly place the American Labor Movement in the category of those who work for peace because the Labor Movement works for justice for working men and women—all the time, every day, year after year.”

Fr. Mc Manus also explained: “People of faith believe we are on this earth to worship God, to do His will and to build up God’s Kingdom on earth in justice, solidarity and respect for every son and daughter of God. Not only that, but people of no faith and no religion can agree with the centrality of social justice. All people of good-will, all fair-minded people, recognize that without justice, civilized society cannot stand; fair treatment cannot stand; fair employment cannot stand, and a just and living wage cannot stand.

So … people of faith can be certain that working for justice is doing God’s work on earth. And people of no faith can be certain that working for justice is doing the decent and loving thing. And all of us can be certain that anything that does injustice —anything that discriminates, marginalizes, demeans, devalues and disrespects human beings— cannot be God’s work, or cannot be the decent and loving thing to do.”

The Secretary-Treasurer of the AFL-CIO, Liz Shuler, was one of the speakers. She gave a stirring account of the labor record and achievements of the two Honorees.

The World Peace Prize Awarding Council consists of 14-member Board of International and Interfaith judges. The Board is comprised of representatives of the world’s nine major religions: Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Catholicism, Protestantism, Russian Orthodox, and Zoroastrianism.

Top Massachusetts Labor Leader Receives World Peace Prize

“Steven Tolman, president, AFL-CIO— a charismatic, energetic, and passionate Labor leader— eminently deserves this Prize.”

Fr. Sean McManus, President Steven Tolman, and Barbara Flaherty

CAPITOL HILL. Wednesday, January 16, 2019— A top Massachusetts Labor leader has been awarded the World Peace Prize.

Steven Tolman, president of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO, was presented with the World Peace Prize of “Roving Ambassador for Peace.”

The presentation ceremony took place on Tuesday afternoon, January 15, 2019, in Florian Hall, Dorchester, Boston.
World Leader and Master Planner, Rev. Dr. Han Min Su, founded the World Peace Prize in Seoul, South Korea, in 1989. Dr. Han is a Presbyterian Minister.

Fr. Mc Manus explained: “Working for peace, locally or globally, means, in effect and of necessity, working for social justice. Therefore, members of the Labor Movement are ideally qualified to be recipients of our World Peace Prize. Steven Tolman, President, AFL-CIO— a charismatic, energetic, and passionate Labor leader— eminently deserves this Prize. As Pope John Paul 1I has said, ‘peace is the fruit of solidarity.’ And the American Labor Movement knows a thing or two about solidarity.”

President Tolman in his acceptance speech said: “I am humbled by this award because I truly believe that every union leader and activist is worthy of the same recognition. We’re all working day in and day out for justice…
On behalf of our members,
On behalf of fairness in the workplace,
On behalf of all working people who deserve a voice and their fair share.
As Martin Luther King said: ‘As you press on for justice, be sure to move with dignity and discipline, using only the weapon of love.’Thank you for the honor of receiving this award.” [Full speech will be available next week on our website — WorldPeacePrizeWashington.org]

WORLD PEACE PRIZE FOR OHIO LABOR LEADER

WORLD PEACE PRIZE FOR OHIO LABOR LEADE

Fr. Sean McManus, Secretary-Treasurer Petee Talley, Barbara Flaherty

CAPITOL HILL. Tuesday, January 8, 2019— The first woman to serve in a top Ohio AFL-CIO position has been honored by the World Peace Prize organization.

Pierrette “Petee” Talley of Columbus is the first woman to hold one of the top two offices in the 56-year history of the Ohio AFL-CIO—Secretary-Treasurer.

Ms. Talley, a member of AFSCME Local 3616, was first elected in 2002.

On Monday, January 7, 2019, in the United Food Commercial Workers union hall, Columbus, the World Peace Prize of “ Roving Ambassador for Peace” was conferred upon Ms. Talley.

The Prize was presented by Fr. Sean McManus, president of the Capitol Hill-based Irish National Caucus and Chief Judge of the World Peace Prize. The presentation ceremony was chaired by Barbara Flaherty, Executive Vice President, Irish National Caucus, and a Judge on the World Peace Prize Awarding Council. Fr. Mc Manus described Secretary-Treasurer Talley as “ a Rosa Parks of the Ohio labor movement.”

Ms. Talley said: “This is truly a tremendous honor and I am deeply humbled to accept it on behalf of workers in Ohio and across the nation. World peace is a mission that we all must aspire to in our quest for justice for those who labor in the building of our nation’s goods and services, and we do so unselfishly and with pride, in the spirit of peace.”

Massachusetts Labor Leader to Receive World Peace Prize

Steven Tolman, President, AFL-CIO

CAPITOL HILL. Thursday, December 20, 2018— For the first time, a Massachusetts resident will be honored with the World Peace Prize.

The World Peace Prize Awarding Council (WPPAC) has announced that Steven Tolman, president of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO, will receive the prestigious prize of “Roving Ambassador for Peace.”

The presentation ceremony will take place on Tuesday, January 15, 2019, at 2:30-4:30 PM in Florian Hall, 55 Hallet Street, Dorchester, Boston, MA 02124.

World Leader and Master Planner, Rev. Dr. Han Min Su, founded the World Peace Prize in Seoul, South Korea, in 1989. Dr. Han is a Presbyterian Minister.

Dr. Han said: “Our Washington office—WWW.WorldPeacePrizeWashington.org— headed by Fr. Sean Mc Manus and Barbara Flaherty of the Irish National Caucus, nominated the Honorable Steven Tolman. Our 14-member Board of International and Interfaith judges unanimously selected Mr. Tolman. Our Board is comprised of representatives of the world’s nine major religions: Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Catholicism, Protestantism, Russian Orthodox, and Zoroastrianism. We congratulate Mr. Tolman, while also knowing that his acceptance honors our noble idea and mission of world peace.”

Fr. Sean Mc Manus — President of the Capitol Hill-based Irish National Caucus and Chief Judge of the World Peace Prize Awarding Council (WPPAC)— said: “I have the honor of being the Chief Judge of the World Peace Prize Awarding Council (headquartered in Seoul, South Korea).

We were pleased to be able to propose Steven Tolman because of the intrinsic link between justice and peace. As Saint Pope John Paul II has declared, peace is, indeed, the fruit of solidarity.’ Labor Leaders who spend their entire lives working in solidarity for justice for working men and women are, indeed, working for peace—not only nationally but also globally. Hence, Labor leaders — and Steven Tolman in particular—are eminently qualified to be candidates for the World Peace Prize of Roving Ambassador for Peace. Furthermore, our Peace Prizes encourage members of the Labor Movement to positively think of themselves as not just fighters for justice but as peace builders as well. I believe this gives an important dimension to Labor’s self-understanding, self-image, and self-identity. And, I urge all members of the Labor Movement to embrace it —as I know Steven Tolman does. So, too, does the national president of the AFL-CIO, the great Richard L. Trumka.”

Mr. Tolman said: “I am truly honored to be chosen as the Roving Ambassador for World Peace. Within the ranks of the labor movement, there are leaders of every sector who are committed to standing up against injustice of all types. Each and every day I am honored to partner with them in their fight, and I accept this award in the spirit of their work as we strive for a more just and peaceful world.” END.