Yonkers' Union Leader Honored With National Award

YONKERS, N.Y. – A Yonkers' union official has been recognized as one of the top Irish labor leaders in the country.

Barry McGoey, president of Yonkers Firefighters Local 628, was named to the 2012 Top 50 Irish Labor Leaders in the United States last week by Irish Echo, a prominent Irish-American newspaper.

“I’m deeply honored and proud to be included among a most distinguished and notable group of America’s top modern labor leaders,” McGoey said in a statement.

The celebrated group included officials from more than five states and brought together individuals from work fields like education, real estate and construction.

Each honoree, including James Cahill, president of the 100,000-member New York State Building and Construction Trades Council, were honored last week at Bobby Van’s Steakhouse in lower Manhattan.

McGoey, who in addition to leading the 322-member Yonkers' firefighter union serves as an attorney, was chosen for “his dedication to serving his fellow firefighters and his goal of keeping citizens safe,” the Irish Echo said.

McGoey has been at the forefront of labor negotiation in Yonkers as firefighters and city hall continue to try and work out a deal, a job the union president said cannot be taken lightly.

“The firefighters I advocate for risk their lives to protect the citizens of the great city of Yonkers,” McGoey said. “My role as both firefighter and union president is to advocate strongly for maintaining the critical staffing and safety levels needed to keep citizens and our firefighters safe.”

Presenting McGeoy and the other honorees with their awards was Gerry Adams, a key figure in the Northern Ireland peace struggle and president of Sinn Fein, one of that nation’s largest political parties, who traveled from Ireland to recognize the group.

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