Alabama Organized Labor Awards Foundation banquet honors state leaders
Past and present Labor Person of the Year Award winners, including this year's winner, Brandon Cardwell, business manager of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 443, right. (Nik Layman / Alabama News Center)
For more than 30 years, the Alabama Organized Labor Awards Foundation (AOLAF) has strived to preserve and promote the state’s labor heritage, address current challenges facing working people and position the labor movement for the future.
On Saturday, Aug. 10, more than 400 business, community and labor leaders gathered in Hoover, Alabama, to recognize its most recent group of honorees.
“The foundation highlights the accomplishments and legacy of organized labor in Alabama and honors members who have distinguished themselves with their service and leadership to the working people of our state,” said Bren Riley, AFL-CIO president.
Honored as the 2024 Labor Person of the Year was Brandon Cardwell, business manager of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 443. Since 2010, Cardwell has held leadership positions within Local 443, serving as assistant business manager, and now as business manager.
Inducted into the Hall of Fame (Posthumous) was Jimmy Price, United Steelworkers (USW) Local 351L. Price worked at the BF Goodrich Tire Plant from 1977 until his retirement in 2012. In 1995, he was elected vice president of Local 351L, then went on to serve as president from 2001 to 2012. Price is known as being an advocate for workers’ rights and middle-class workers.
Five labor leaders were inducted into the Hall of Fame:
- Dexter Beams, USW Local 351L.
- Dwight Cagle, United Mine Workers of America (UMWA).
- Sammy Dotson, International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 312.
- Gary Reaves, IBEW Local 136.
- Harrison Whisonant, United Association (UA) Local 91.
Receiving the 2024 Friend of Labor award was Alabama Power Chairman, President and CEO Jeff Peoples. With more than 40 years of experience in the energy industry, Peoples has been instrumental in developing one of the strongest labor-management partnerships in the country working alongside local, regional and national labor leaders.
About 40% of Alabama Power employees are members of the IBEW and the company partners with the North America’s Building Trades Unions for contract workers who help construct and maintain its facilities across the state.
“Receiving this award is one of the biggest honors of my career,” Peoples said. “At Alabama Power, we are proud of our partnership with organized labor. Together, we are able to provide dependable power for our customers and help elevate communities across our state.”
During the banquet, the foundation also presented $29,000 in trade and academic scholarships to students from across Alabama.
Alabama Organized Labor Awards Foundation (AOLAF) scholarship recipients. (Nik Layman / Alabama News Center)
