IN THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE OF JACKSON COUNTY, MISSOURI
Title
A RESOLUTION congratulating Bobby Davidson upon his selection by Labor's Educational and Political Club Independent as "Organized Labor's Representative of the Year 2001"
Intro
RESOLUTION # 13632, March 26, 2001
INTRODUCED BY Victor E. Callahan, County Legislator
Body
WHEREAS, Labor's Educational and Political Club Independent (LEPCI) Board voted unanimously to honor Bobby Davidson, along with Jim Kabell, as "Organized Labor's Representative of the Year 2001," for his successful efforts to ensure that 1500 Associated Wholesale Grocers union members retained their jobs, jobs that were threatened by a management lock-out; and,
WHEREAS, Bobby assisted in orchestrating a masterful public relations campaign that captured the interest of the news media, allied the public on the side of the union, and united support from organized labor; and,
WHEREAS, he argued skillful appeals that convinced arbitrators and gained the support of the National Labor Relations Board; and,
WHEREAS, Bobby, former President of the Teamsters Local 955, has twenty-two years of management experience; and,
WHEREAS, he honed skills learned while serving in the U.S. Army from 1962 to 1965 and launched his career with Teamsters Local Union 955 in January 1979, when he was appointed Business Representative; and,
WHEREAS, his position with Teamsters Local 955 gave him an opportunity to assist the President as a functionary in the operation of the union, including contract negotiations, arbitration, organization, and problem solving; and,
WHEREAS, Bobby was elected Secretary-Treasurer/Finance before becoming President of Local 955 in 1996, only to be elected Secretary-Treasurer of the Missouri-Kansas Conference of Teamsters later that same year, and Recording Secretary of Teamsters Joint Council 56 one year later; and,
WHEREAS, Bobby received special training from Harvard University's Advanced Negotiations Private and Public Sector Problem Solving Court, and studied Contract Negotiations-Problem Solving at the University of Missouri and Government Policies Public and Private Sectors Problem Solving at the Kansas City Kansas Community College; and,
WHEREAS, Bobby and his wife, Virginia, have been married 36 years, and together have three children and nine grandchildren; and,
WHEREAS, Bobby's leadership in the Teamsters Union has guided him into an active role in the community, having received a Certificate of Merit from the Untied Way and served as a member of a team that raised $75,000.00 for sports and activities for non-profit organizations; and,
WHEREAS, Bobby and Jim Kabell devoted many hours to negotiations in an effort to bring Associated Wholesale Grocers and Teamsters Union members together; and,
WHEREAS, LEPCI's president Bill Richardson stated "The actions of these two outstanding labor leaders is a warning to all corporate offices that union officials cannot be compromised when representing their members on critical issues; it was a victory that will be of benefit to all unions in the future;" and,
WHEREAS, on April 6, 2001 at 7:30pm, LEPCI will host a dinner in honor of Bobby Davidson and Jim Kabell, at Harrah's Casino and Hotel in North Kansas City because the committee believes strongly that organized labor is indebted to these two labor leaders for their accomplishments; now therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the County Legislature of Jackson County, Missouri, that the Legislature hereby congratulates Bobby Davidson upon his selection by Labor's Educational and Political Club Independent, as "Organized Labor's Representative of the Year for 2001."
Enacted and Approved
Effective Date: This Resolution shall be effective immediately upon its passage by a majority of the Legislature.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
_________________________ ___________________________________
County Counselor
Certificate of Passage
I hereby certify that the attached resolution, Resolution 13632 of March 26, 2001 was duly passed on ____________March 26________________, 2001 by the Jackson County Legislature. The votes thereon were as follows:
Yeas ________8_________ Nays ______0_______
Abstaining ______0_______ Absent _____1_______
______________________ _____________________________________
Date Mary Jo Brogoto, Clerk of Legislature