LEWISTON — The Western Maine Labor Council’s “Workers’ Memorial Day Dinner,” held Sunday evening at the Dolard and Priscilla Gendron Franco Center, was equal parts celebration and remembrance.

The dinner celebrated the commitment to protect workers’ health and safety, and the accomplishments and movements of working people and labor unions.

It also honored Maine workers who were injured or died on the job last year.

Cynthia Phinney, president of the AFL-CIO in Maine, said the ceremony is “a good time to stop and take a breath and remember the folks we lost.”

According to guest speaker Nancy Lessin, 17 Maine workers died on the job in 2017.

“Maine had the fourth-lowest fatality rate in the country,” said Lessin, senior staffer for strategic initiatives with the United Steelworkers in Pittsburgh. “It’s only 17, but we all know 17 lives is 17 too many.”

Three awards were given out Sunday evening to celebrate and recognize the hard work of Mainers who fight for safe and fair working conditions.

The Lewiston Firefighters Association was given the Workers’ Solidarity Award in recognition of their three-year contract fight with the City of Lewiston.

Captain Rick Cailler, Lewiston firefighter and President of the Lewiston Firefighters Association, said it’s great to be recognized for a labor solidarity movement.

The award is given to groups who advance the interests of working people through organizing and collective action, according to the Western Maine Labor Council.

The firefighter’s contract was settled in September 2017 after a long fight to add firefighters to their staff and to have a minimum staffing level.

“City council was a bid support at the end, they saw our concerns about the safety of firefighters and citizens,” Cailler said.

“We should have 21 firefighters on duty. We have 17 now. We’re still behind, but not as far behind. It’s progress.”

Cailler said without the solidarity of the association, they probably would not have the contract they do.

The Bath Marine Draftsman Association was also presented with the Worker’s Solidarity Award for their persistence to maintain flex time in their contracts with Bath Iron Works.

BMDA Vice President Trent Vellella said the award recognizes the members who made the contract negotiations possible. He said there are currently 725 members.

Vellella said there has been a noticeable difference in the company since negotiations and the noticeable solidarity of the members.

“It’s nice to have folks in the labor movement recognize the work of the members,” he said.

The final award of the evening, the Bruce D. Roy solidarity Award, was given to retired Bath Iron Works tinsmith Don Bilodeau of Leeds.

The award is given each year to a leader who had dedicated much of their life to strengthening worker’s organization and improving the lives of working people.

Bilodeau was a founding member of the Western Maine Central Labor Council and served as both President and Vice-President.

He said the award was especially meaningful because he worked with Roy for many years.

“He was a tireless worker, and he turned me into a tireless worker,” Bilodeau said of Roy.

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