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The Southeastern Ohio Central Labor Council announced the 2023 recipients of its annual Champions of Labor Award at a dinner at The Inn at Hocking College on Wednesday.
The Award is given to those who have made outstanding contributions in support of workers, the labor movement and the betterment of our region.
The Southeastern Ohio Council named six recipients of the Champions of Labor Award:
≤ Athens County Commissioner Charlie Adkins for his lifelong advocacy for workers including his leadership as president of AFSCME Local 1699 to create a more diverse and inclusive union, and as an Athens County commissioner to create good-paying jobs for our residents and for his steadfast support of county first-responders.
≤ Washington County Commissioner Charlie Schilling for his commitment and support of the skilled trades and workers throughout Washington County.
≤ Chris Knisley for standing up for workers as the president of Athens City Council, including her leadership in making Athens City Council the first in Ohio to pass a resolution opposing the August ballot issue that would have effectively ended citizen-initiated constitutional initiatives.
≤ John Haseley for his support of workers as chief of staff to Congressman and Gov. Ted Strickland, and for his more recent work as an advocate for worker rights throughout Ohio.
≤ Athens Township Trustee/County road worker Brian Baker and York Township Trustee/County road worker Bill Mellinger for public service above and beyond the call of duty. Early this past spring while routinely doing their jobs as road workers, Baker and Mellinger happened upon an overturned car in a flooded ditch line.
They jumped from their truck and came upon a young woman trapped in the car who had been hanging upside down most of the night in the vehicle by her seat belt.
They cut her loose from the car and rendered first aid for hyperthermia and other injuries until ACEMS arrived.