"We Can Make a Difference" Says Trades Unionist of the Year Jimmy Tarlau

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)

“We have to do something different,” CWA 2-13’s Jimmy Tarlau said Saturdaynight as he accepted the 2013 JC Turner Award for Outstanding Trades Unionist of the Year at the 37^thannual Evening with Labor. “We cannot just keep on getting the same people elected and expect that we’re going to get different results.   We have to take control of what we do politically.  We have to make sure that the candidates we support talk about expanding labor rights and correcting economic inequality in our country and our state – not just in union halls but door to door when they’re talking to potential voters.” Tarlau, a CWA District 2-13 Vice-President and Mount Rainier City Councilmember who’s now running for a seat in the Maryland Assembly, said that “We have to be the ones who take the lead in Annapolis. That is why Cory McCrayfrom the IBEW is running for State Delegate in Baltimore; that is why Veronica Turner from 1199 is running for State Senator in District 26, and Larry Greenhill from IBEW is running for State Delegate in District 25 in Prince George’s County, and that is why I am running for State Delegate in District 47A.  We are challenging the status quo because we are not getting the results we need. This year there are a handful of us running for state office.  Next time there should be over two dozen labor candidates.  We can make a difference.” Other award-winners included the IBEW (Thomas M. Bradley Community Services Award), Reverend Curry (Outstanding Citizen Award), Unite Here 23 (Golden Picket Sign) and AFGE 17 (Organizing Award). Maryland Lt. Governor Anthony Brown and DC Mayor Vincent Gray were among the dozens of area politicians attending the event, at which more than 800 local union leaders, members and activists enjoyed an evening of schmoozing, dining and dancing.
- Chris Garlock; photos by Bill Burke/Page One