Amid Attacks on Workers from the State House and White House, Awardees Show Power of Leadership
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: September 15, 2025
Contact: Leah Leszczynski, lleszczynski@miaflcio.org, (989) 316-6044
LANSING, MI – On September 3rd, at the Michigan AFL-CIO’s 36th Legislative Convention, Michigan’s labor movement awarded several leaders across the state for their support of organized labor and their contributions to its mission.
“Amid attacks on workers from the halls of government itself, we must recognize elected officials and leaders who fight for workers,” said Ron BIEBER, president of the Michigan AFL-CIO. “From the bottom of my heart, I’d like to thank and congratulate this year’s awardees.”
The Lifetime Achievement Award was given to Congressman Dan Kildee for his decades of public service to the people of Flint and Michigan workers. Kildee’s contributions include standing on countless picket lines, helping pass the CHIPS and Science Act to create good-paying, union jobs, and securing funds for Flint in the wake of the water crisis.
Legislators of the Year were recognized for their strong support of labor in their respective legislative bodies. These awardees included State Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids), State Representative Penelope Tsernoglou (D-East Lansing), and Kellogg Community College Board of Trustees Chair Steve Claywell.
Brinks was recognized for her unwavering leadership as Senate Majority Leader throughout the 102nd Michigan Legislature, which resulted in the passage of several critical, pro-labor bills. These include the repeal of anti-union “right-to-work” laws, the restoration of prevailing wages, and the creation of a Worker Economic Transition Office within Michigan’s Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity. Brinks was also recognized for her current work which includes legal advocacy to make sure several pro-labor bills that are being unconstitutionally stalled by the state House become law.
Tsernoglou’s accomplishments for labor include restoring the rights of working people to have their union PAC contributions deducted directly from their paychecks and sponsoring legislation to repeal PA 152, the law that unfairly caps healthcare coverage for public sector employees (which is now being stalled in the state House).
Claywell’s accomplishments for labor include helping implement pro-labor policies at Kellogg Community College, including saving workers’ healthcare costs, a local vendor preference policy, and the provision of credit hours for students who have completed apprenticeship programs.
Workers First Service Awards were conferred upon leaders who have displayed remarkable leadership, bravery, and passion as they fight for workers. Awardees included Andy Nickelhoff, Geno Alessandrini Sr., and Larry Roehrig.
Nickelhoff provided legal counsel to the Michigan AFL-CIO in matters concerning labor law, campaign finance, and constitutional law.
Alessandrini Sr. served the Michigan Laborers’ District Council and its members in several positions, including business manager and trustee.
Roehrig served Michigan’s AFSCME members for over forty years as Secretary-Treasurer and President of AFSCME Council 25.
The Michigan AFL-CIO, Michigan’s largest labor organization, is a federation representing forty different labor organizations, eighteen different central labor councils, and eight constituency groups representing over 1 million union members and their families.
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