In Memoriam: AFSCME Council 20's James Ivey
Monday, November 18, 2013(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)
Mourning the recent passing of AFSCME
District Council 20 President James Ivey
(far left in photo), Council 20
Executive Director Geo T. Johnson called Ivey a
“gentle giant who was truly a man amongst men
in the labor movement.” "James was a
committed trades unionist who was devoted to
the welfare of all workers," said Metro Council
president Jos Williams. "He gave his heart and
soul to the movement. Our condolences to his
family as well as to his union family. We will
all miss him dearly." DC Mayor Vincent Gray
said that Ivey “was always a fierce advocate
for the workers of AFSCME District Council 20,
anyone who ever worked with Mr. Ivey could
attest to the fact that his willingness to
engage in reasonable compromise ultimately
redounded to the benefit not only of his
members, but of all District taxpayers as
well.” Ivey, said Mayor Gray “mastered the
art of disagreeing without being
disagreeable.” Ivey also led AFSCME Local
2091, whose members work at DC Water and the DC
Department of Public Works, and served on the
District’s Joint Labor-Management
Classification and Compensation Reform Task
Force. “I know that James is in heaven with
Sam Gompers, the Reuther Brothers and George
Meany,” added Johnson, “and I know he’ll
be bringing them a new perspective up there.”
Memorial services for Ivey will be held this
Thursday, November 21, from 11a to 12:30p at
Unity Church, 1225 R St., NW
photo: Ivey (far left) with Jos Williams, Alex
Thompson and Geo Johnson at the 2012 Evening
With Labor; photo by Bill Burke/Page
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