CONGRATULATIONS ON RETIREMENT TO RONALD E. POWELL, LOCAL 881 UNITED FOOD AND COMMERCIAL WORKERS (UFCW) UNION PRESIDENT
AND INTERNATIONAL VICE PRESIDENT
WHEREAS, On January 23, 2019, Ronald E. Powell will be celebrating his retirement as President of UFCW Local 881 and Vice President of UFCW International; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of this special occasion by the Honorable Margaret Laurino, Alderman of the 39th Ward; and
WHEREAS, Ron began his illustrious career in the American Labor Movement in 1961 having been himself an employee of Jewel Food Stores and a member of the formerly named, Jewel Food Store Employees Union; and
WHEREAS, For over five decades, Ron has provided progressive and innovative leadership to his union colleagues, beginning with his role as Local 881 Union Representative in 1961. From that time, his exemplary service within the organization grew in scope and influence as he advanced to the positions of Field Staff Supervisor (1968-73); Vice-President of Field Operations (1973-83); and, President (1983-present); and
WHEREAS, Ron's enormous commitment to the labor movement was further recognized and honored when he was selected by Union members in 1987 to serve as Vice-President of the International UFCW Executive Board and Vice President of the Illinois AFL-CIO; and
WHEREAS, Ron's leadership within the union has always been rooted in his deep caring for working people, the quality of their work lives, their overall wellbeing, and that of their families. Ron knows that a country's workforce is its essential backbone for positive growth and advancement and he always looked for ways to ensure that laborers were cared for in their jobs. Ron focused much of his attention on developing the quality of worksite representation, membership services, benefits, communications, and more. When he held the position of Trustee for the UFCW Midwest Health Benefits and Pension Funds, he used it to gain further insight so as to be able facilitate meeting the needs of union members. Additionally, he volunteered his time and efforts on behalf of labor-minded political candidates in all levels of government who he knew to be sensitive to the needs of working people, earning him the recognition of being elected as a Delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in 1996, 2000, and 2008; and
WHERAS, As a sign of how much Ron's experience and counsel has been sought after, there have been multiple boards on which he was asked to serve, including the: Amalgamated Bank of Chicago; Illinois Workers' Compensation Advisory Board; United Way of Illinois; Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois; Little City Foundation Board of Directors and Board of Consultants; as a Trustee on the Village Board of Mundelein; and, most recently, the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority Board; and
WHEREAS, Ron will be joined by his colleagues, family and friends to celebrate his retirement at Gibson's in Oak Brook, on January 23, 2019; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, That we the Mayor and Members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, gathered here this twenty-third day of January 2019, do hereby commend, honor, and extend much gratitude to Ronald E. Powell for his truly outstanding career achievements and offer our heartiest congratulations on his retirement from his UFCW local and international leadership posts; and
MARGARET LAURINO ALDERMAN 39th Ward
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be prepared and presented to Ronald E. Powell as a sign of our honor and respect.
