This past Friday, Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato (D-Rockaway Beach) was selected by the Irish Echo, America’s oldest Irish newspaper, to present a labor award to William “Bill” Lacey, the Director of Civil Service Carpenters for over a decade with the New York City District Council of Carpenters. Pheffer Amato was one of only five legislators invited to present an award at the Labor Awards dinner, a celebration held this year at the Edison Ballroom. The featured speakers were Gerry Adams, President of the Irish labor and independence party Sinn Fein, and Terry O’Sullivan, President of LiUNA. The annual dinner recognizes the contributions of Irish-Americans to the Labor movement, both in the legislature and within organized labor.

“The Irish-American labor movement and organized labor in America are almost synonymous,” said Pheffer Amato. “I’m a member of the American-Irish Legislators’ Society, and there’s a huge Irish population in my district. I have such an appreciation for the accomplishments of the people in this room and for your forebears. Labor leaders push us hard to do the right thing. Keep pushing us. Those of us in government who are listening will keep joining with you to amplify your voice.

“Bill Lacey has held a special role in this fight by serving as lead representative for the Civil Service Carpenters. His team works in sixteen City agencies across the Five Boroughs. They literally build the American dream. I congratulate him on his honor by the Echo, I want to thank the Echo and TD Adams, and I’m more inspired than ever to work with each of you to protect our fellow working New Yorkers!”