Title
To Congratulate Rodney French as the 2025 George Meany Award Recipient.
Body
WHEREAS, the George Meany Awards Banquet, the largest labor recognition of its kind in the country, is a night for the Central Ohio AFL-CIO and the United Way Community Services Department to recognize local business and labor leaders who have given outstanding volunteer service to the community; and
WHEREAS, the George Meany Awards, named after the late George Meany, former President of the national AFL-CIO, are presented by the Central Ohio AFL-CIO to a labor person for outstanding leadership and support of health, welfare, and recreation services to the Central Ohio Community; and
WHEREAS, Rodney has been a proud member of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation (SMART) Local #24 since 1985, serving as Business Manager since 2017 where he managed operations and finances of the union while helping in the negotiation of working conditions and contract wages for over 2,800 members covering 88 counties throughout Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, and West Virginia. Prior to serving as Business Manager, Rodney served as Local #24’s Business Representative in 2012 until 2017; and
WHEREAS, as a representative on the Executive Board of the Columbus Building Trades Council, Rodney’s advocacy and leadership helped promote healthy labor-management relationships between employers and employees in the construction industry; and
WHEREAS, Rodney served as a representative on the Executive Boards of the Ohio State Building & Construction Trades Council, the Franklin County Convention Facilities Authority, the South-Western Career Academy Manufacturing Cluster Advisory Committee, the Fort Hayes Career Center Advisory Board, the Eastland Career Center Welding Advisory Board, and the Affiliated Construction Trades Ohio, where he helped advocate for fair wages, workforce training, industry regulations, safety standards, and career advancement opportunities for young people; and
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
that we hereby congratulate Rodney French as the 2025 George Meany Award Recipient.