LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending Brian O'Shaughnessy upon the occasion
of his designation for special recognition by the Labor-Religion Coali-
tion of New York State on June 12, 2012

WHEREAS, The quality and character of life in this Nation, and the great
State of New York, is reflective of the purposeful lives and good works
of those patriotic and civic-minded community members who dedicate their
lives and careers to the service of others; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to commend Brian
O'Shaughnessy upon the occasion of his designation for special recogni-
tion by the Labor-Religion Coalition of New York State on Tuesday, June
12, 2012, at NYSUT in Latham, New York; and
WHEREAS, Brian O'Shaughnessy served as Executive Director of the
Labor-Religion Coalition (LRC) of New York State since 1994 and was
instrumental in its founding; he is stepping down after 18 years of
dedicated service as its director; and
WHEREAS, Under Brian O'Shaughnessy's committed leadership, LRC has
impacted thousands of lives through educational workshops, conferences,
affiliation with local coalitions across the state and the country, and
advocacy for ethical policies that fairly share New York's bounty; and
WHEREAS, Brian O'Shaughnessy has been in the thick of the organization
and its causes since 1980, when the coalition first took shape with
volunteers, including NYSUT President Emeritus Thomas Hobart; and
WHEREAS, A board was formed in 1994, and Brian O'Shaughnessy was hired
to oversee intense projects to change the workers' landscape for the
better including Sweatfree Schools, Fair Trade, Justice for Farm Work-
ers, and Living Wage; and
WHEREAS, A hallmark of Brian O'Shaughnessy's legacy is the coalition's
annual 40-hour Fast for workers' rights; and
WHEREAS, Brian O'Shaughnessy also helped launch the Sweatfree Schools
project, which prompts school districts to stop buying goods, such as
uniforms and sports apparel, that are produced in sweatshops; and
WHEREAS, The LRC, after convincing New York to become only the third
state to join the Sweatfree Purchasing Consortium, is also collaborating
with key state officials to have New York adopt a Code of Conduct; this
would require vendors seeking to sell apparel to the state to take a key
step toward protecting worker rights in factories across the globe; and
WHEREAS, The coalition also has worked hard on behalf of farmworkers,
advocating for legislation that would provide some overtime compen-
sation, one day a week of legal rest and the right to organize; and
WHEREAS, Brian O'Shaughnessy, a former Catholic priest who lived 17
years in public housing as part of his duties, has worked with Solidari-
ty Housing projects, Employee Ownership program, and the Capital
District Community Loan Fund; and
WHEREAS, Brian O'Shaughnessy also headed the Albany Diocesan Peace and
Justice Commission; his wife, grassroots activist Maureen Casey, has
worked alongside him at the coalition; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those who
enhance the well-being and vitality of their community and have shown a
long and sustained commitment to excellence certainly have earned the
recognition and applause of all the citizens of this great Empire State;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Brian O'Shaughnessy upon the occasion of his designation for
special recognition by the Labor-Religion Coalition of New York State on
June 12, 2012; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Brian O'Shaughnessy.