GGNRA Leader Honored

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Presidio San Francisco - Former LIUNA Local 1141 President Michael Crahan was honored for his Union Leadership and service to the members at the Presidio Golf Club on Thursday evening. The event coordinated by UPEC Local 792 was to honor all those involved in the Blood Borne Pathogen case. Crahan recently retired from Federal Service with the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) but continued working with Local 792 on several important issues. Crahan started the grievance process for the recently settled case on the blood borne pathogen that affected over 140 employees in the GGNRA in 2001. LIUNA Public Employee DIrector Bob Purcell presented an award to Crahan for his investigation of the case and his persistence along with a check for $15,000.00 for his work on the case. Bob Purcell won the case in 2005 but the final calculations were still up in the air. The GGNRA members were transfered to Local 792 in July 2007 and Representative Dave Ritchie took on the case. Dave did a phenominal job putting the final elements together, finding and preparing witensses and testimony and arguments for compensation. The case was brought to closure when the Federal government offered a settlement of about 1 million dollars to the union. Business Manager Chris Darker thanked everyone who had been involved. “When our members have the courage to stand up against an employer who ignores and violates the law and we work together that is good for the members, our union and our nation. America needs organized labor”. Darker awarded Michael Crahan the 2009 Union Leadership Award. “Michael brought Justice, Honor and Strength to these members”.