Ed Smith Bio - Laborers' Union Midwest -
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Published on: 4/19/2006
Last Visited: 4/1/2007
Smith succeeded his father, Connell Smith, as Business Manager of the Local in 1976 and served in that position until 1994.
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In 1981, Smith was appointed International Representative for the Midwest Region and was later appointed LIUNA Legislative Director for the State of Illinois.During his tenure, Smith initiated an aggressive voter registration drive among members of Laborers' Union and increased participation in the election process.By focusing on the issues important to working families, Laborers under Smith's leadership were instrumental in electing pro-worker candidates.Since 1977, Smith served on the 12th, 20th, and 22nd Congressional Districts AFL-CIO Committees on Political Education and chaired the committees from 1980 to 1994.Smith remains active in the political process.He has served as a Delegate to the Democratic National Convention three times and was honored by the National Democratic Party as the first Illinois citizen ever awarded the prestigious Lawrence O'Brien Award.The award is only conferred upon nine individuals per year.Smith has also been awarded the Democratic Recognition Award and the Oris Vick Award for his contributions to the party.Smith has also been appointed to the U.S. Judicial Selection Committee, the Illinois Comptroller's Ethics Committee, and the Illinois Department of Labor Advisory Committee.
Smith was elected President of the Southern Illinois Laborers' District Council in 1986 and Business Manager in 1990.During his years of leadership, The District Council embarked on an aggressive organizing campaign to bring new members into the Union.Smith oversaw 30 successful organizing campaigns and increased his own Local Union's size from 275 to more than 1,000 members.As the Union grew in size, its membership also became more diversified, including construction workers, industrial, government, service, and health care workers.As International Vice President and Midwest Regional Manager, Smith established the Midwest Region Organizing Committee in 1998.Serving as Chairman of the Committee, more than 3,000 new members have joined the Laborers.
As International Vice President and Midwest Regional Manager, Smith has incorporated many programs to assist members of the Union.He is currently Chairman of the Midwest Region Laborers' Health and Safety Fund, the Midwest Region Foundation for Fair Contracting, the National Alliance for Fair Contracting, the Illinois Laborers-Employers Cooperation and Education Trust, the Central Laborers= Pension, Welfare, and Annuity Funds, and the Laborers' International-Federal Employees Credit Union.Continued training for Laborers has been a priority for Smith.He currently serves as a Trustee of Laborers-AGC Education and Training Fund and is the Chairman of the Illinois Laborers' & Contractors Joint Apprenticeship and Training Program.He also serves on the Advisory Board for the Multi-Employer Property Trust.
Smith remains active in his community.He served as Chairman of the Southern Illinois Five County Private Industry Council from 1981 to 1984 and was a member of the Shawnee Development Council from 1976 to 1986.Smith served as a commissioner of the Alexander County, Illinois Housing Authority from 1976 to 1992, as its Chairman from 1980 to 1992, and received the Authority's Service Award in 1994.Smith has served as a member of the Shawnee College Foundation since 1991 and was awarded the group's first Outstanding Alumnus Award in 1992.From 1991 to 1994 Smith served as the Southern Illinois Chairman of the Dollars Against Diabetes Campaign and was recognized as top fundraiser from 1992-1994.Smith has also been recognized by the NAACP and was presented the Cairo, Illinois Outstanding Citizen Award in 1992 for his contributions to the community.Smith has also been a major benefactor to the Therapy Center in Carterville, Illinois.The agency assists physically disabled children.
Smith was one of the first members of the Laborers' International Union to graduate from the George Meany Center for Labor Studies College Program and he graduated from the Harvard Union Trade Program in 1978.
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