Sheldon Whitehouse: “I rise today to offer my sincerest congratulations to my friend George Nee on his upcoming retirement as president of…”

“I rise today to offer my sincerest congratulations to my friend George Nee on his upcoming retirement as president of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO. George is a friend of many years, and I have long admired his dedication to fighting for Rhode Islanders--for good-paying jobs, affordable healthcare, safe workplaces, and retirement security. George was born in Syracuse, NY, and first came to New England in the late 1960s to attend Boston College. He left his studies to oversee the United Farm Workers grape boycott in Massachusetts and, a few years later, came to Rhode Island for the Farm Workers' lettuce boycott. Through his work, he met legendary activist and organizer Cesar Chavez and became part of the security team protecting Chavez as he worked to organize farm workers. Inspired by Chavez, George returned to the Ocean State in 1976 to form his own union, which would become the Service Employees International Union Local 76, representing jewelry, clerical, and healthcare workers. In 1983, George joined the Rhode Island AFL-CIO as its executive director, then secretary-treasurer, then president. Under George's leadership, the AFL-CIO improved access to opportunities for workers, including Climate Jobs Rhode Island, an initiative to help transition Rhode Island toward a clean energy economy. Along the way, he met and married Anne Sliney, the best of a great many good decisions he has made.…”