Southwestern Illinois Central Labor Council names day for Bill Thurston

By CARL GREEN

Illinois Correspondent

Belleville, IL – As president of the Southwestern Illinois Central Labor Council, Bill Thurston has issued plenty of resolutions over the years. But this time, the resolution was about him.

The Council at its August meeting approved a resolution proclaiming Sept. 1, 2016, as “Brother William ‘Bill’ Thurston Day” in conjunction with the Council’s awards dinner Sept. 1, where he was named Labor Man of the Year.

The resolution notes that Thurston has been a member of East St. Louis Laborers Local 100 for 46 years and is a member of the Southwestern Illinois Building and Construction Trades Council.

It states that Thurston:

• “… continues to be a driving force and supporter for Organized Labor, civil and human rights, worker and union rights, for the sustainment of a living and prevailing wage.”
• “…serves as the humble, productive but sincere president of the Southwestern Illinois Central Labor Council for St. Clair, Monroe and Washington counties.”
• “…serves the United Way Board of Directors, Southwestern Illinois Leadership Council, PSOP, and has been the recipient of the Illinois AFL-CIO State Community Services Awards.”
• “…serves as president of the 12^th Congressional District AFL-CIO COPE Committee, a delegate to the Illinois AFL-CIO Central Labor Councils Conference, a delegate to the Illinois AFL-CIO state convention and networks with the area agencies, local unions, businesses, corporations and our city, county, state and national legislators for the continued cooperation and support of Organized Labor.”