Political Quotes

“I rise today before you to honor Mrs. Betty L. Tianti, the Nation's first female president of a State labor federation and Connecticut's first labor commissioner. Mrs. Tianti died on May 16, 1994. After attending the University of Connecticut and the University of Massachusetts, Mrs. Tianti began her career at the American Thread Co. factory in Willimantic in 1956 and became president of her local union. From 1962 to 1970, she served as an organizer for the union, both in New England and in the South, as well as assistant director of the Textile Worker Union's Committee on Political Education, otherwise known as COPE. From 1970 to 1974, Mrs. Tianti served as an assistant agent for the Connecticut State Board of Labor Relations. She then became director of the Connecticut State AFL-CIO's COPE. In 1979, she became the federation's secretary-treasurer until 1985. In 1985, Mrs. Tianti was elected as president of the Connecticut State AFL-CIO and served until 1988 when Governor William A. O'Neill named her as Connecticut's labor commissioner. Mrs. Betty Tianti has made a significant contribution to the State of Connecticut and to the labor movement. Her dedicated service should be commemorated and appreciated on the sad occasion of her death. I salute Mrs. Tianti as a pioneer and a courageous leader.”