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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E476]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
IN RECOGNITION OF THE LABOR-MANAGEMENT COUNCIL OF GREATER KANSAS CITY
______
HON. EMANUEL CLEAVER
of missouri
in the house of representatives
Thursday, April 18, 2019
Mr. CLEAVER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the Labor-
Management Council (LMC) of Greater Kansas City's fortieth year serving
the Greater Kansas City Area. Since the LMC was founded in 1979, they
have grown to include membership from eighty organizations, including
corporations, unions, governments, and nonprofits within the local
area.
In 1979, members of the Kansas City business community who all cared
deeply about the labor and management process came together to form the
Labor-Management Council of Greater Kansas City. During the ensuing
years, Bob Jacobi Jr. provided steadfast and enthusiastic service as
Executive Director of the LMC through his leadership and his passion
for public service. It has been my honor and pleasure to partner with
the LMC on various occasions as they sought to create an open and equal
collaboration between local government and organizations of all sizes
in our city.
As a trailblazer in the Greater Kansas City area since their
founding, the Labor-Management Council (LMC) has focused on providing
the tools for employees to successfully negotiate with their employers
for better benefits. The LMC developed the statuary framework of
collective bargaining where employees could advocate for things like
better healthcare and reduction of employment uncertainty. The LMC
supported legislative proposals to provide relief via safety net
hospitals for workers and Medicaid coverage for the newly unemployed
and the uninsured. They continue to advocate for a system where every
citizen can have their voice heard, and inclusion in the workplace
becomes a reality. As a friend and collaborator with the LMC, I am
inspired by the work they accomplished in the forty years since their
genesis. My collaboration with the LMC has been one of the more
rewarding aspects of my career, and I am honored to have served
alongside this remarkable organization.
Throughout the years, the Labor-Management Council of Greater Kansas
City has operated upon the pillars of their values and their dedication
to a larger social responsibility. Refining the concept of collective
bargaining, they used this tool of broad consensus to fight for equity
and inclusivity in the larger economic and social issues present within
our community. Together with their numerous partner organizations, the
LMC provides a forum for community leaders and employees to work
together on civic and economic issues. Examples of their noteworthy
contributions to the community include their active support for
accessible healthcare coverage, better public infrastructure, and
broader citywide public transportation.
Madam Speaker, please join with Missouri's Fifth Congressional
District in honoring the Labor-Management Council of Greater Kansas
City for their achievement of forty years of service in the community
and their indelible mark on our society. I urge all my colleagues and
fellow citizens across the country to join me in showing our
appreciation to Labor-Management of Greater Kansas City for their
undeterred commitment to civic service and worker advocacy in our
region.
____________________
